Nicaea Library › Library

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Nearly 4,000 short entries on the people, places and words of the Bible.

Edition: CCEL · www.ccel.org

Free to read, with no account needed. Public domain or openly licensed, with every source named.

From the opening: Entries Beginning with A

Aaron The eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Ex. 6:20). Some explain the name as meaning mountaineer, others mountain of strength, illuminator. He was born in Egypt three years before his brother Moses, and a number of years after his sister Miriam (2:1, 4; 7:7). He married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab of the house of Judah (6:23; 1 Chr. 2:10), by whom he had four sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. When the time for the deliverance of Isarael out of Egypt drew nigh, he was sent by God (Ex. 4:14, 27-30) to meet his long-absent brother, that he might co-operate with him in all that they were required to do in bringing about the Exodus. He was to be the "mouth" or "prophet" of Moses, i.e., was to speak for him, because he was a man of a ready utterance (7:1, 2, 9, 10, 19). He was faithful to his trust, and stood by Moses in all his interviews with Pharaoh.

When the ransomed tribes fought their first battle with Amalek in Rephidim, Moses stood on a hill overlooking the scene of the conflict with the rod of God in his outstretched hand. On this occasion he was attended by Aaron and Hur, his sister's husband, who held up his wearied hands till Joshua and the chosen warriors of Israel gained the victory (17:8-13).

Afterwards, when encamped before Sinai, and when Moses at the command of God ascended the mount to receive the tables of the law, Aaron and his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, along with seventy of the elders of Israel, were permitted to accompany him part of the way, and to behold afar off the manifestation of the glory of Israel's God (Ex. 19:24; 24:9-11). While Moses remained on the mountain with God, Aaron returned unto the people; and yielding through fear, or ignorance, or instability of character, to their clamour, made unto them a golden calf, and set it up as an object of worship (Ex. 32:4; Ps. 106:19). On the return of Moses to the camp, Aaron was sternly rebuked by him for the part he had acted in this matter; but he interceded for him before God, who forgave his sin (Deut. 9:20).

On the mount, Moses received instructions regarding the system of worship which was to be set up among the people; and in accordance therewith Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priest's office (Lev. 8; 9). Aaron, as high priest, held henceforth the prominent place appertaining to that office.

Keep reading in the library →

Contents (83 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Entries Beginning with A
  3. Entries Beginning with A (continued)
  4. Entries Beginning with A (continued)
  5. Entries Beginning with A (continued)
  6. Entries Beginning with A (continued)
  7. Entries Beginning with A (continued)
  8. Entries Beginning with B
  9. Entries Beginning with B (continued)
  10. Entries Beginning with B (continued)
  11. Entries Beginning with B (continued)
  12. Entries Beginning with C
  13. Entries Beginning with C (continued)
  14. Entries Beginning with C (continued)
  15. Entries Beginning with C (continued)
  16. Entries Beginning with C (continued)
  17. Entries Beginning with C (continued)
  18. Entries Beginning with C (continued)
  19. Entries Beginning with D
  20. Entries Beginning with D (continued)
  21. Entries Beginning with D (continued)
  22. Entries Beginning with E
  23. Entries Beginning with E (continued)
  24. Entries Beginning with E (continued)
  25. Entries Beginning with E (continued)
  26. Entries Beginning with F
  27. Entries Beginning with F (continued)
  28. Entries Beginning with G
  29. Entries Beginning with G (continued)
  30. Entries Beginning with G (continued)
  31. Entries Beginning with H
  32. Entries Beginning with H (continued)
  33. Entries Beginning with H (continued)
  34. Entries Beginning with H (continued)
  35. Entries Beginning with H (continued)
  36. Entries Beginning with I
  37. Entries Beginning with I (continued)
  38. Entries Beginning with J
  39. Entries Beginning with J (continued)
  40. Entries Beginning with J (continued)
  41. Entries Beginning with J (continued)
  42. Entries Beginning with J (continued)
  43. Entries Beginning with K
  44. Entries Beginning with L
  45. Entries Beginning with L (continued)
  46. Entries Beginning with M
  47. Entries Beginning with M (continued)
  48. Entries Beginning with M (continued)
  49. Entries Beginning with M (continued)
  50. Entries Beginning with M (continued)
  51. Entries Beginning with N
  52. Entries Beginning with N (continued)
  53. Entries Beginning with O
  54. Entries Beginning with P
  55. Entries Beginning with P (continued)
  56. Entries Beginning with P (continued)
  57. Entries Beginning with P (continued)
  58. Entries Beginning with P (continued)
  59. Entries Beginning with Q
  60. Entries Beginning with R
  61. Entries Beginning with R (continued)
  62. Entries Beginning with S
  63. Entries Beginning with S (continued)
  64. Entries Beginning with S (continued)
  65. Entries Beginning with S (continued)
  66. Entries Beginning with S (continued)
  67. Entries Beginning with S (continued)
  68. Entries Beginning with T
  69. Entries Beginning with T (continued)
  70. Entries Beginning with T (continued)
  71. Entries Beginning with U
  72. Entries Beginning with V
  73. Entries Beginning with W
  74. Entries Beginning with W (continued)
  75. Entries Beginning with Y
  76. Entries Beginning with Z
  77. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)
  78. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)
  79. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)
  80. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)
  81. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)
  82. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)
  83. Entries Beginning with Z (continued)

How to cite it

Chicago
Matthew George Easton. Easton's Bible Dictionary. CCEL, 1897. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/easton/ebd2
MLA
Matthew George Easton. Easton's Bible Dictionary. CCEL, 1897. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/easton/ebd2
APA
Matthew George Easton (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary. CCEL. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/easton/ebd2

More from Bible Commentaries and Reference