Our story centers around the verses in Numbers 20:25-28: "Take Aaron and Elazar his son, and take them up Hor Mountain… Strip Aaron of his vestments, and dress Elazar his son in them; and Aaron will be gathered, and die there… Moses did as the Lord commanded… Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments and dressed Elazar his son in them, and Aaron died there at the top of the mountain; and Moses and Elazar descended from the mountain."
These verses, so simple on the surface, conceal layers of profound emotion and divine instruction.
Bamidbar Rabbah 19 delves into the heart of this poignant moment. The Holy One, blessed be He, says to Moses, regarding Aaron, "You comfort him as he is bequeathing his crown to his sons, while you are not bequeathing [your crown] to your sons." Can you imagine the weight of those words? Moses, tasked with leading his people, yet denied the comfort of passing on his legacy within his own family. It's a striking contrast, highlighting the unique bond between Aaron and Elazar as Aaron prepares to leave this world.
The text emphasizes the phrase “Take Aaron… Strip.” God is telling Moses to comfort Aaron as he bestows his priesthood upon his son, especially since Moses will not be passing on his own leadership role to his sons.
But here's a fascinating detail. The text then poses a question: Isn't it forbidden for a High Priest to wear his priestly vestments outside the Temple Mount? According to the Talmud (Zevachim 116b), doing so would warrant forty lashes, because the garments contain both wool and linen, violating the prohibition of shatnez. The camp of the Levites in the desert was considered the equivalent of the Temple Mount for these purposes.
So why was Aaron allowed to wear them up Mount Hor?
The Bamidbar Rabbah offers a beautiful explanation. It tells us that just as the expression "Take Aaron" initiated him into the priesthood (Leviticus 8:2), that same expression authorized his ascent up the mountain in those very vestments. There was a special dispensation in this case allowing Aaron to wear the clothing of the High Priest outside of the Temple Mount. It’s as if the initial divine command created a sacred space around Aaron, allowing him to fulfill his final priestly act.
Finally, and perhaps most powerfully, the text concludes with: “Moses did as the Lord commanded” – to teach you that even though he said to him an evil decree against Aaron, he did not delay. Even knowing Aaron was going to die, and perhaps feeling the sting of not passing on his own leadership, Moses obeyed without hesitation.
Think about that for a moment. Despite the personal pain, despite the potential questions swirling in his mind, Moses acted with unwavering faith and obedience. It's a testament to his character, a reminder that even in the face of loss and difficult commands, we are called to fulfill our duties with grace and resolve. What would we do in that situation? Could we act with such unwavering faith? It’s a question worth pondering, isn't it?