The Torah tells us Aaron died on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:22-29), but the how of it, well, that's where the legends fill in the gaps, adding layers of human emotion to a divine decree.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Moses and Aaron were walking along, perhaps deep in conversation, when a cave suddenly appeared before them. Moses, knowing what was about to happen, asked Aaron to enter.
Now, picture this: Moses is faced with a terrible task. God has told him to remove Aaron's priestly garments and give them to his son, Eleazar. But how do you even begin to tell your brother, your lifelong companion, that his time is ending?
Moses, ever the leader, but also a loving brother, couldn't just blurt it out. He had to find a way to approach the subject with sensitivity. So, he says to Aaron, "My brother, it's not proper to enter this cave wearing the priestly garments. They might become unclean. It’s a beautiful cave, and there might be old graves inside." A practical excuse, a gentle way to ease into the inevitable.
Aaron, trusting his brother implicitly, replies, "Thou art right." And with that, Moses, following God’s command but undoubtedly with a heavy heart, removed the priestly garments from Aaron and placed them upon his son, Eleazar.
It's a poignant moment, isn't it? The weight of duty, the pain of loss, all wrapped up in this simple act of changing clothes. It reminds us that even the most revered figures in our tradition were still human, grappling with difficult choices and profound emotions.