Variantly — From (Exodus 7 — 1) "See I have made you an

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Pischa 1:2

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 2, 2025

When God told Moses in (Exodus 7:1), "See, I have made you an overlord to Pharaoh," a question immediately arose in the minds of the ancient rabbis. The verse seems to single out Moses alone as the one who would stand as judge over the Egyptian king. But what about Aaron? Was he not also sent to confront Pharaoh?

The Mekhilta resolves this by pointing to the broader passage, which addresses both "Moses and Aaron" together. This pairing is not accidental. Scripture deliberately likens Moses to Aaron, establishing that just as Moses served as a kind of divine authority figure — an "elohim," meaning judge or overlord — before Pharaoh, so too did Aaron hold the same status. And just as Moses spoke his words to the Egyptian monarch without fear or hesitation, Aaron did the same.

This teaching reflects a broader principle in rabbinic thought: that Aaron was not merely Moses' mouthpiece or assistant. He was a co-equal partner in the mission to liberate Israel from Egypt. The rabbis read every word of Scripture with precision, and the inclusion of Aaron's name alongside Moses' was understood as a deliberate elevation of Aaron's role. Both brothers stood before the most powerful ruler on earth and spoke God's words with unflinching courage. Neither trembled. Neither held back. The Torah wanted future generations to know that the mission to free Israel required not one hero, but two — each granted the same divine authority, each fearless in the face of tyranny.

Themes

Moses Egypt Exodus Passover Priesthood

Biblical References

Exodus 7:1

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