Aaron's work for Israel was done. Forty years before, at the age of eighty-three, God had called him to unite with Moses in his great and important mission. He had co-operated with his brother in leading the children of Israel from Egypt. He had held up the great leader's hands when the Hebrew hosts gave battle to Amalek. He had been permitted to ascend Mount Sinai, to approach into the presence of God, and to behold the divine glory. The Lord had conferred upon the family of Aaron the 426 office of the priesthood, and had honored him with the sacred consecration of high priest. He had sustained him in the holy office by the terrible manifestations of divine judgment in the destruction of Korah and his company. It was through Aaron's intercession that the plague was stayed. When his two sons were slain for disregarding God's express command, he did not rebel or even murmur. Yet the record of his noble life had been marred. Aaron committed a grievous sin when he yielded to the clamors of the people and made the golden calf at Sinai; and again, when he united with Miriam in envy and murmuring against Moses. And he, with Moses, offended the Lord at Kadesh by disobeying the command to speak to the rock that it might give forth its water.

Arons arbejde for Israel var endt. For fyrre år siden - han var da tre og firs år - havde Gud kaldet ham, for at han skulle samarbejde med Moses i dennes store og betydningsfulde opgave. Sammen med sin broder havde han ledet Israels børn ud af Ægypten. Han havde holdt den store leders hænder oppe, da hebræerne kæmpede med Amalek. Han havde fået lov til at stige op på Sinajs bjerg, hvor han havde været i Guds nærhed og set hans herlighed. Herren havde tildelt Arons familie præsteembedet og vist ham den ære at indvi ham til ypperstepræst. Han havde støttet ham i hans hellige embede ved den frygtindgydende måde, hvorpå han lod den guddommelige straf falde, da han dræbte Kora og hans tilhængere. Det var ved Arons mellemkomst, at plagen blev standset. Da hans to sønner blev dræbt, fordi de havde tilsidesat Guds udtrykkelige befaling, reagerede han hverken ved at gøre oprør eller knurre. Og dog var hans ædle levned ikke pletfrit. Aron begik en frygtelig synd, da han gav efter for folkets krav og lavede guldkalven ved Sinaj. Det samme var tilfældet, da han og Mirjam blev misundelige på Moses og kritiserede ham. Han og Moses krænkede også Herren ved Kadesj, fordi de ikke adlød befalingen om at tale til klippen for at få den til at give vand.