Aaron's Death

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The death of the High Priest, Aaron, is discussed in Numbers 20:23-29 and Deuteronomy 10:6.
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The Passing of Aaron
TANAKH
Aaron's death was not just a personal loss but a significant communal event, marking the transfer of priestly duties and a period of national mourning. The Torah recounts the divine command for Aaron's death, the ceremonial transfer of his priestly garments to his son Eleazar, and the Israelites' collective mourning.
“Let Aaron be gathered to his kin: he is not to enter the land that I have assigned to the Israelite people, because you disobeyed My command about the Waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up on Mount Hor. Strip Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar. There Aaron shall be gathered unto the dead.” Moses did as יהוה had commanded. They ascended Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died there on the summit of the mountain…
Numbers 20:24-29
The Miraculous Death of Aaron
MIDRASH
Aaron's death was marked by divine intervention, showcasing the miraculous and respectful nature of his passing. Louis Ginzberg’s early 20th-century work, Legends of the Jews, recounts the celestial garments and supernatural events surrounding Aaron’s death.
As it would have been improper if Aaron had been buried quite naked, God brought about the miracle that, as soon as Moses took off one of Aaron's garments, a corresponding celestial garment was spread over Aaron, and when Moses had stripped him of all his priestly garments, he found himself arrayed in eight celestial garments. A second miracle came to pass in the stripping of Aaron's garments, for Moses was enabled to take off the undermost garments before the upper. This was done in order to satisfy the law that priests may never use their upper garments as undergarments…
Legends of the Jews 3:5:67
The Significance of Aaron's Death
COMMENTARY
Aaron's death on the first day of the month of Ab was seen by the Canaanites as a sign of misfortune for the Israelites, prompting them to believe they could successfully wage war against Israel. The Tze'enah Ure'enah, a 17th-century Yiddish work, discusses the timing of Aaron's death and its implications for the Israelites' protection and their enemies' perceptions.
“Aaron died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month” [33:38]. Aaron died in the fortieth year in the fifth month, that is the month of Ab, on the first day of the month. Our sages say: why did the verse say here on which day he died? When he died should have been written in the portion of Hukat, since the proper death of Aaron was written there. Furthermore, we do not find regarding our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that the Torah writes on which day they died…
Tze'enah Ure'enah, Masei 7
The Vulnerability After Aaron's Death
TALMUD
The death of Aaron led to the disappearance of the protective clouds of glory, leaving the Israelites vulnerable to attack. The Talmud in Tractate Rosh Hashanah recounts the immediate military threat faced by the Israelites following Aaron's death and the national mourning that ensued.
“And when the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel” (Numbers 21:1). What report did he hear? He heard that Aaron had died, and that the clouds of glory had withdrawn from the Jewish people, and he thought that he had been granted permission to wage war against the Jewish people. And this is as it is written: “And all the congregation saw that [ki] Aaron was dead, and they wept for Aaron thirty days, all the house of Israel” (Numbers 20:29).
Rosh Hashanah 3a:1
The Consequence of Alliance
MIDRASH
The death of Aaron is directly associated with the alliance made with the wicked king of Edom, which explains why his death is mentioned immediately after the parashah concerning the king of Edom. The Midrash Tanchuma Buber draws a connection between Aaron's death and this alliance, emphasizing the profound loss of this righteous man.
(Numb. 20:22:) THEN SETTING OUT FROM KADESH, <THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF> THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME <TO MOUNT HOR>. This text is related (to II Chron. 20:37): BECAUSE YOU HAVE JOINED {TO THE WICKED ONE} [WITH AHAZIAH], THE LORD WILL DESTROY YOUR WORK. <Similarly,> because they made an alliance with this wicked king to pass through his land, they lost this righteous man (i.e., Aaron). For that reason the death of Aaron is added < immediately> after the parashah on the king of Edom. (Numb…
Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Chukat 37:1
The Overlooked Mourning of Aaron
COMMENTARY
Despite the Israelites witnessing the protective power of a righteous person's prayer, they did not take time to mourn Aaron's passing or celebrate Eleazar's appointment as High Priest. Rabbi Ovadia Sforno, a 16th-century Italian commentator, offers a unique perspective on the Israelites' reaction to Aaron's death in his commentary on Deuteronomy 10:6.
ובני ישראל נסעו , even though they had seen that the prayer of a righteous person may prove a protection for the members of his generation so that it is most appropriate to mourn his death, in this instance we find that the Israelites in their search for water journeyed on without delay, not a word being said about their taking time out to mourn the passing of Aaron. This is the meaning of the construction: “there Aaron died, was buried…and Eleazar became High Priest in his stead.” They neither took time out to mourn Aaron nor did they celebrate the appointment of a new High Priest…
Sforno on Deuteronomy 10:6:1
The Timing of Aaron's Death
COMMENTARY
Aaron's death was not a consequence of the Golden Calf incident but occurred much later, ensuring continuity in the priesthood. Rashbam, a medieval Jewish scholar, provides a commentary on Deuteronomy 10:6, clarifying the timing and significance of Aaron's death.
'ובני ישראל נסעו מבארות בני יעקן וגו, if you were to say to me that I told you that you prayed also on behalf of Aaron (Deut. 9.20) concerning what had happened in the first year of our wanderings, and in the meantime Aaron has died, so what good are your prayers? To such an argument Moses answered that Aaron did not die in the first year when, due to his participation in the golden calf, G’d had meant to kill him, but he only died at the end of these long years at Hor Hahar, at the time when we journeyed from Beerot Bney Yaakon…
Rashbam on Deuteronomy 10:6:1
The Mourning of Aaron
JEWISH THOUGHT
Aaron's death was marked by profound communal mourning, reflecting his unique role as a peacemaker and beloved leader. In rabbinic literature, Aaron is celebrated for his ability to promote harmony, which is why his death was mourned by the entire congregation.
The passage begins in similar fashion to Miriam’s death scene, as an interruption of the sojourns of the children of Israel. Here, however, there is special mention of the “whole congregation.” It is this group that frames the passage, as it closes with “all the house of Israel.” Again in the middle we are reminded that this event takes place “in the sight of all the congregation.” That the whole congregation would travel together and mourn collectively for one of its leaders comes as no surprise, but the noticeable absence of this communal presence in the death of Miriam and…
Leadership in the Wilderness; Authority and Anarchy in the Book of Numbers, Part III, Chapter 15; Losing a Leader 14
Aaron's Final Moments Unveiled
SECOND TEMPLE
Josephus provides a detailed account of Aaron's death, including the location, the transfer of his priestly garments, and the exact date according to different cultural calendars. In his historical work, Josephus offers a unique perspective on the death of Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel, linking it to the incident at the waters of Meribah.
7. Now when this purification, which their leader made upon the mourning for his sister, as it has been now described, was over, he caused the army to remove and to march through the wilderness and through Arabia; and when he came to a place which the Arabians esteem their metropolis, which was formerly called Arce, but has now the name of Petra, at this place, which was encompassed with high mountains, Aaron went up one of them in the sight of the whole army, Moses having before told him that he was to die, for this place was over against them…
The Antiquities of the Jews 4:4:7
The Consequences of Aaron's Passing
TARGUM
Aaron's death triggered an attack by the Canaanite king of Arad, causing significant distress and internal conflict among the Israelites. The Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on Deuteronomy 10:6 describes the immediate consequences of Aaron's passing, highlighting the impact on the Israelites.
And the children of Israel journeyed from the villages of the wells of the Beni Jahakan to Mosera. There Amalek, who reigned in Arad, and who had heard that Aharon was dead, and that the Cloud of Glory had gone up, (came and) fought with them. And those of Israel who were distressed by that war sought to go back into Mizraim, and returned (towards it) six journeys; (but) the sons of Levi followed after them, and slew eight families of them, and the remainder returned. Of the sons of Levi also four families were slain…
Targum Jonathan on Deuteronomy 10:6
The Journey After Aaron's Death
COMMENTARY
The Israelites' journey after Aaron's death was marked by emotional and physical challenges, emphasizing their deep mourning and the loss of their protective leader. Rashi, the renowned 11th-century biblical commentator, provides insight into the Israelites' return to the way of the Red Sea and their mourning at Moserah.
דרך ים סוף BY THE WAY OF THE RED SEA — As soon as Aaron died and this war came upon them they turned back on the way to the Red Sea; this was the way on which they had turned back when there had been enacted against them the decree that they must wander in the wilderness in consequence of their murmuring after having received the report of the spies, as it is said, (Deuteronomy 1:40), “And take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea”. Here they went back seven stages, as it is said, (Deuteronomy 10:6)…
Rashi on Numbers 21:4:1
A Peaceful Passing
MIDRASH
Aaron's death is depicted as a peaceful and divinely orchestrated event, something Moses himself desired. The Sifrei Devarim, a second-century halakhic midrash, provides a detailed account of Aaron's serene passing, often described as 'by the kiss' of God.
"as Aaron your brother died": the kind of death that you desired. Whence did Moses desire the death of Aaron? When the L-rd said to him (Bamidbar 20:25-26) "Take Aaron and Elazar his son … and strip Aaron of his garments," they stripped him of the priestly vestments and put them on Elazar … He said to him: "Enter the cave"; he entered. "Lie down upon the bed"; he did so. "Stretch out your arms"; he did so. "Stretch out your legs"; he did so. "Close your mouth"; he did so. "Close your eyes"; he did so. At that time Moses said: Happy is he who dies such a death…
Sifrei Devarim 339:3
The Beloved High Priest
KABBALAH
Aaron was beloved by the people more than anyone else, and his death and the transfer of his garments to Eleazar were witnessed by all Israel to ensure that no one would think Aaron's appointment as High Priest came through Moses. The Zohar, a central work of Jewish mysticism, elaborates on the biblical account of Aaron's death and the peaceful transition of the high priesthood to his son Eleazar.
AND MOSES DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED, ETC. Why did they go up “in the sight of all the congregation”? Aaron was most dearly beloved of all the people, and therefore, so that they should not say that he was laid out by Moses, they all saw when he stripped Aaron of the garments and put them on Eleazar.
Zohar, Chukat 9:63
The Succession of Aaron
MIDRASH
The story of Aaron's death and the succession of his sons highlights the importance of family lineage and personal conduct in the priesthood. The fifth-century midrash Vayikra Rabbah delves into the procedural and hierarchical aspects of priestly succession, emphasizing the roles of Elazar and Itamar and the merit of family purity.
“They had no children” (Numbers 3:4). Rabbi Yaakov bar Avin said in the name of Rabbi Avin in the name of Rav Aḥa: If they had sons, they would have taken precedence over Elazar and Itamar, as we learned elsewhere: Anyone who takes precedence for inheritance takes precedence for honor, provided that he conducts himself in the manner of his ancestors.
“Elazar and Itamar served as priests in the presence of Aaron, their father” (Numbers 3:4). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: During his lifetime. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: Upon his death…
Vayikra Rabbah 20:11
The Significance of Aaron's Death
COMMENTARY
Aaron's death is intricately connected to significant historical events in Jewish history, such as the burning of the Temple and the death of Moses. Rabbeinu Bahya’s commentary provides a detailed calculation of the exact date of Moses' death based on the mourning period and preparation for crossing the Jordan River.
בחדש החמישי באחד לחודש, “in the fifth month on the first of the month.” This was the New Moon on which Aaron died. On the ninth of that month (many hundreds of years later) the Temple was burned and the Torah with it. On the 7th of the month of Adar following Moses died, as is reported in Joshua that the Children of Israel crossed the river Jordan on the tenth of the first month (Nissan). You may deduct the three days that the people prepared food for the crossing and 30 days during which the people mourned their leader and you will find that Moses must have died on the 7th of Adar (compare…
Rabbeinu Bahya, Bamidbar 33:38:1
The Parallel Departures of Moses and Aaron
TANAKH
The deaths of Moses and Aaron are paralleled in the Torah, highlighting their unique and dignified departures from this world. The Torah recounts that both Moses and Aaron were gathered to their kin and died on a mountain, emphasizing their righteous status without detailing the reasons for Aaron's death or the mourning period.
You shall die on the mountain that you are about to ascend, and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin;
Deuteronomy 32:50
Sinai. Hill of Aaron from Jethro's path, 1950. Matson Photo Service, photographer. Library of Congress
Sinai. Hill of Aaron from Jethro's path, 1950. Matson Photo Service, photographer. Library of Congress

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