That is what is written:10The following exposition is based on the words “you shall not wrong one another.” The midrash now understands this phrase as referring to verbal abuse or the insulting of another individual (Etz Yosef). “The children of Israel did in accordance with everything that the Lord commanded Moses, so they encamped according to their banners” (Numbers 2:34). Where was Aaron?
Rabbi Yehoshua bar Neḥemya, Rabbi Levi bar Ḥayata, and Rabbi Abba in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: When he came to establish their lineage, they abused him verbally, saying to him: ‘You are establishing our lineage? Before you come to establish our lineage, go and establish the lineage of your sons. Elazar your son, to whom is he married? Is it not to the daughter of Putiel?’11The midrash asserts that Putiel is another name for Yitro, who was an idolator (see Shemot Rabba 7:5).
That is what is written: “Elazar, son of Aaron, took from the daughters of Putiel” (Exodus 6:25). When the Holy One blessed be He saw that they were disparaging him, He began establishing his lineage. That is what is written: “Pinḥas son of Elazar son of Aaron the priest” (Numbers 25:11); priest son of a priest, zealot son of a zealot, one who turned back wrath son of one who turned back wrath, as it is stated: “Has turned back My wrath…therefore, say: Behold, I am giving him […a covenant of eternal priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and he atoned for the children of Israel]” (Numbers 25:11–13).
That is why the Holy One blessed be He accorded precedence to the honor of Aaron relative to the honor of Moses. That is what is written: “These are the descendants of Aaron and Moses” (Numbers 3:1)12This verse immediately follows the verse cited earlier in this exposition, from Numbers 2:34. – it is not written here Moses and Aaron, but rather, Aaron and Moses. Therefore, Moses cautioned Israel: “If you sell a sale item.”