Chapter 3

The Sons of Aaron. ¹ These are the offspring of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. ² These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab, the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.^{(A) 3} These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests whom he ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ But Nadab and Abihu died^(B) in the presence of the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai; and they left no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

³² The chief of the leaders of the Levites, however, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest; he was in charge of those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.

Death of Aaron. ^22 (A)Setting out from Kadesh, the Israelites, the whole community, came to Mount Hor.^{[a] 23} There at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁴ Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land I have given to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my directions at the waters of Meribah. ²⁵ Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up on Mount Hor.^{(B) 26} Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar, his son; but there Aaron shall be gathered up in death.

²⁷ Moses did as the Lord commanded. When they had climbed Mount Hor in view of the whole community, ²⁸ Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain.^(C) When Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, ²⁹ all the community understood that Aaron had breathed his last; and for thirty days the whole house of Israel mourned Aaron.