Chosen and Brought Near and Why Aaron Is Blessed Twice Over

"And you, bring near to yourself Aaron your brother" (Exodus 28:1). This is what Scripture says, "Happy is the one You choose and bring near" (Psalms 65:5). Happy is the one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, chose even though He did not draw him near, and happy is the one whom He drew near even though He did not choose him. Who is the one He chose? This is Abraham, as it is said, "You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram" (Nehemiah 9:7); yet He did not draw him near, and Abraham drew himself near. Jacob, the Holy One, blessed be He, chose him, as it is said, "Israel, in whom I take pride" and, "for the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself" (Psalms 135:4); yet He did not draw him near, and Jacob drew himself near, as it is said, "And Jacob was a wholehearted man, dwelling in tents" (Genesis 25:27). Moses, He chose him, as it is said, "Moses His chosen one" (Psalms 106:23), and Moses drew himself near. David, He chose him, as it is said, "And He chose David His servant" (Psalms 78:70), and David drew himself near, as it is said, "I am a companion to all who fear You" (Psalms 119:63). Happy are these whom the Holy One, blessed be He, chose even though He did not draw them near. And there are those whom He drew near though He did not choose them: Jethro, the Holy One, blessed be He, drew near though He did not choose him; Rahab the harlot, the Holy One, blessed be He, drew near though He did not choose her. Happy is Aaron in double measure, for the Holy One, blessed be He, chose him and drew him near, as it is said, "and to choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be a priest to Me" (1 Samuel 2:28), and it is written, "And you, bring near to yourself Aaron your brother." Therefore David praises them, "Happy is the one You choose and bring near, that he may dwell in Your courts" (Psalms 65:5). "To serve Me as priest" (Exodus 28:1): in every place where "to Me" is said, it is forever and to all eternity.