The term "Aaronic" pertains to Aaron, the brother of Moses, and his descendants, who were designated as the priestly class in ancient Israel. Aaron, the first high priest, was from the tribe of Levi, and his lineage was chosen by God to perform the sacred duties associated with the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The Aaronic priesthood is a central theme in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

Priestly Role and Duties

The Aaronic priesthood was established by God as recorded in the book of Exodus. Aaron and his sons were consecrated to serve as priests, with specific duties outlined in the Law. These duties included offering sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and teaching the Israelites God's statutes. In Exodus 28:1 , God commands Moses, "Bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."

The priestly garments, sacrifices, and rituals are detailed in the book of Leviticus, which serves as a manual for the Aaronic priesthood. Leviticus 8 describes the consecration of Aaron and his sons, emphasizing the holiness required of those who serve in the presence of God.

The High Priesthood

Aaron was the first high priest, a role that carried significant responsibilities, including entering the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). The high priest was a mediator between God and the Israelites, symbolizing the need for holiness and atonement.

The Aaronic Blessing

One of the most well-known aspects of the Aaronic priesthood is the blessing pronounced by Aaron and his sons over the people of Israel. This blessing is recorded in Numbers 6:24-26 : "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."

Challenges and Failures

The Aaronic priesthood was not without its challenges and failures. Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered unauthorized fire before the Lord and were consumed by fire as a result (Leviticus 10:1-2). This incident underscores the importance of obedience and reverence in the priestly office.

Transition and Fulfillment

The Aaronic priesthood continued through the history of Israel, but it was ultimately fulfilled and transformed in the New Testament through the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews presents Jesus as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, surpassing the Aaronic priesthood by offering a perfect and eternal sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 7:11-28).

The Aaronic priesthood remains a significant aspect of biblical history and theology, illustrating the themes of holiness, mediation, and the need for atonement.(a.) Alt. of Aaronical.

Christ Our High Priest.
... he could not be a man. But they fail to observe that he was without these
things in the Aaronic priesthood. For it is said that ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

The Allegory of Melchizedek.
... The Hebrew Christians may still maintain that the Messiah perfected the
Aaronic priesthood and added to it the glory of kingship. ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter vii the allegory of.htm

part 2
... tithes to Him. The Aaronic priesthood was recognized and owned by Israel
through their payment of the tithe to them. In the seventh ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/tithing/part 2.htm

The Man Christ Jesus
... In Abraham's bowing all the line of Aaronic priesthood did homage unto Melchizedek;
for as the apostle saith, "Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the man christ jesus.htm

Acts XXI
... Some years later, the whole question concerning the Aaronic priesthood and animal
sacrifices was thrust more distinctly upon his mind, and the Holy Spirit made ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

The Worship of the Synagogue
... It consisted of prayer and the pronouncing of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers
6:24-26) by priests"that is, of course, not by Rabbis, who were merely teachers ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 17 the worship of.htm

The Faith of Moses.
... Stephen told his persecutors that the founder of the Aaronic priesthood had spoken
of a great Prophet to come, and Christ said that Moses wrote of Him.[283 ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xii the faith of.htm

"Lo, I Come": Exposition
... The rites appropriate to priests are abolished with the Aaronic priesthood, and
can never be restored: "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come exposition.htm

Entire Sanctification in Patriarchal Times.
... Christ, his great antitype, who is from everlasting to everlasting, and who hath
an unchangeable priesthood, is to abolish the Aaronic priesthood, whose ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iii entire sanctification in.htm

Alexandria and Rome - the Jewish Communities in the Capitals of ...
... Jewish sanctuary. Here a new Aaronic priesthood ministered, their support
being derived from the revenues of the district around. The ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v alexandria and rome.htm

Aaronic (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Alt. of Aaronical. Multi-Version Concordance
Aaronic (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles 35:14 And afterward ...
/a/aaronic.htm - 6k

Priesthood (30 Occurrences)
... By divine direction Moses designated the Aaronic family as the priestly family in
Israel, and he prescribed the garments they should wear, the sacrifices they ...
/p/priesthood.htm - 40k

Korah (51 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:21). The institution of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levitical
service at Sinai was a great religious revolution. The old ...
/k/korah.htm - 44k

Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... in Israel and that Mosaism regulated it, bringing it into line with the general
system of religious observance and under the cognizance of the Aaronic priests. ...
/n/nazirite.htm - 21k

Melchisedec (10 Occurrences)
... It was impossible, even had he so wished, to consider Jesus as an Aaronic priest,
for He was descended from the tribe of Judah and not from that of Levi (7:14 ...
/m/melchisedec.htm - 17k

Melchizedek (12 Occurrences)
... It was impossible, even had he so wished, to consider Jesus as an Aaronic priest,
for He was descended from the tribe of Judah and not from that of Levi (7:14 ...
/m/melchizedek.htm - 19k

Aaronite (2 Occurrences)

/a/aaronite.htm - 6k

Alcimus
... The favor with which Alcimus was received by the Jews at Jerusalem on account
of his Aaronic descent was soon turned to hate by his cruelties. ...
/a/alcimus.htm - 7k

Charm (5 Occurrences)
... adhonai = "Lord." In a similar way among the Jews of post-Biblical and perhaps of
even Biblical times, the pronunciation of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24 ...
/c/charm.htm - 14k

Levites (267 Occurrences)
... 418. Exodus 32:26-29 foreshadows the sacred character of Levi, and Deuteronomy
10:6 (E) knows the hereditary Aaronic priesthood. In ...
/l/levites.htm - 72k

What is the Aaronic Blessing? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Aaron in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What were the chief priests? | GotQuestions.org

Aaronic: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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