Numbers 20 28

Numbers 20:28 kjv

And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.

Numbers 20:28 nkjv

Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Numbers 20:28 niv

Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,

Numbers 20:28 esv

And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Numbers 20:28 nlt

At the summit, Moses removed the priestly garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar, Aaron's son. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar went back down.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 28 Meaning

Numbers 20:28 describes the solemn and divinely mandated transfer of the high priestly office from Aaron to his son Eleazar, immediately preceding Aaron's death on Mount Hor. This act symbolizes the continuity of God's covenant with Israel and the priesthood, despite the mortality and failures of individual leaders. It marks a significant transition point in the wilderness journey, affirming God's justice for sin and His faithfulness in maintaining His ordained structure for worship and mediation.

Numbers 20 28 Context

Numbers chapter 20 is a pivotal chapter marking a significant transition in the wilderness narrative. It begins with the death of Miriam, Moses' sister, and shortly after recounts the incident at Meribah, where the Israelites again grumbled for water. In this critical moment, Moses and Aaron disobeyed God's command to "speak to the rock," instead striking it twice. As a result, God declared that they would not lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. This judgment immediately sets the stage for Aaron's impending death and the transfer of his high priestly office. The subsequent narrative describes Israel's attempted passage through Edom and their diversion to Mount Hor. The scene of Numbers 20:28 unfolds on this mountaintop, as a divinely appointed solemn ceremony where Aaron's ministry officially ends and Eleazar's begins, underscoring the finality of God's judgment and the meticulous order of His divine plans. Historically, this occurs near the end of the forty-year wilderness wandering, as the generation under divine judgment is passing away and a new generation prepares to enter Canaan.

Numbers 20 28 Word analysis

• And Moses (וַיַּפְשֵׁ֤ט מֹשֶׁה֙ – vaYapshét Moshéh): Moses, the divinely chosen leader and prophet, acts as the agent of this transfer. His involvement underscores the divine authority behind this act, not a human election. He is both the recipient of God's command (Num 20:23-27) and its solemn executor. His participation validates Eleazar's succession as ordained by God, not merely by human decision or dynastic right.

• stripped (וַיַּפְשֵׁ֤ט – vayyapshét from root פשט, pashat): To undress, divest, or take off. This verb emphasizes a formal, deliberate removal of garments. In this context, it is not merely disrobing but a symbolic divestiture of Aaron's sacred office, authority, and responsibility. It signifies the formal end of his ministry, indicating a divine act of withdrawal from the former officeholder. This act is not for burial preparation but for transfer of sacerdotal power.

• Aaron (אַהֲרֹן – Aharón): The first high priest of Israel, designated by God, brother of Moses. His stripping represents the end of his earthly, mortal high priesthood, due to his participation in the sin at Meribah. It also highlights the temporary nature of the Levitical priesthood. His person and office are intricately tied to the Law and the covenant at Sinai.

• of his garments (בִּגְדֵי אַהֲרֹ֔ן – bigdei Aharón): These are specifically the sacred high priestly garments (Exod 28), which were meticulously described by God and symbolized the dignity, holiness, and specific functions of the high priest. They represent the office itself, its anointing, its authority, and the burdens and privileges associated with it. The transfer of these garments is the physical manifestation of the transfer of the priesthood.

• and put them upon (וַיַּלְבֵּ֛שׁ אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֥ר – vayyalbêsh et-ʾElʿazār from root לבש, labash): To clothe, array, or invest. This is the act of formal investiture. It signifies the conferring of office, authority, and the divine appointment. Just as Moses had invested Aaron with these garments at the ordination (Lev 8), so too does he now invest Eleazar, confirming Eleazar’s legitimate claim to the office. This is not just a change of clothes but a public commissioning for divine service.

• Eleazar his son (אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בְּנֹֽו – et-ʾElʿazār bənō): Aaron's eldest surviving son (after the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, Lev 10:1-7). His succession was divinely appointed, ensuring the continuity of the Aaronic line as God's chosen priestly family. He represented the future of the priestly ministry. His bloodline maintained the integrity of the sacred office according to God’s laws.

• and Aaron died (וַיָּ֥מָת אַהֲרֹ֖ן – vayyāmāt Aharón): This simple phrase conveys the finality of Aaron's earthly life. His death is not presented as an unfortunate event but as the culmination of God’s decree (Num 20:12) and the fulfillment of the transitional ceremony. His passing marked the physical conclusion of the era defined by the first high priest and ushered in the next.

• there (שָׁ֔ם – shām): This points to the immediate location on Mount Hor, emphasizing that his death happened precisely where the divine ceremony of transfer took place. It links the investiture with the death spatially, emphasizing the seamless transition.

• in the top of the mount (בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָהָֽר – bərosh hāhār): Mount Hor, a significant elevated place. Dying on a mountaintop could symbolize being closer to God, a sacred resting place, or perhaps a solemn, public arena for divine judgment. Mountains in the Bible are often sites of encounter with God, revelation, covenant, and significant transitions. Aaron’s burial here marked it as a unique, consecrated spot for this sacred event.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son": This phrase encapsulates the central action of the verse: a divinely orchestrated transfer of office. It emphasizes God's sovereign hand working through Moses to remove one leader and formally appoint another. This was not a power struggle but a spiritual succession. The precise timing of the stripping and reclothing shows the immediate transfer of sacred responsibility, leaving no void in the continuity of divine service.

• "and Aaron died there in the top of the mount": This segment connects Aaron's death directly to the transfer of his priestly office and its specific location. It highlights the divine justice meted out to Aaron for his sin at Meribah (Num 20:12) while simultaneously affirming God’s plan for the continuity of the high priesthood through Eleazar. The mountain setting adds solemnity and sacred significance to the passing of the patriarch of the Aaronic priesthood. It suggests an isolated, awe-filled passing, under the gaze of God.

Numbers 20 28 Bonus section

• The immediate succession upon Aaron's death emphasized that while individual priests may fail or pass away, the divine institution of the priesthood itself was continuous and divinely protected. This gave stability to the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
• Mount Hor's significance as the place of death for the high priest is notable. Like Moses who would also die on a mount (Mt. Nebo), it provided a sense of separation from the camp, a solitary and solemn moment with God. It was a site of ultimate accountability for these great leaders.
• The ritual transfer of garments, more than just symbolism, communicated authority to the people. It visibly confirmed to Israel who was now in charge of their spiritual rites and mediated access to God.
• The death of Aaron before entering the Promised Land serves as a strong cautionary tale against even seemingly minor acts of disobedience to God's precise commands, especially for those in positions of leadership. It reinforces God's attribute of perfect holiness that cannot tolerate rebellion, even from His chosen ones.

Numbers 20 28 Commentary

Numbers 20:28 is a profoundly symbolic and narratively crucial verse in the Pentateuch. It meticulously records the termination of Aaron’s earthly high priesthood and its seamless continuation through Eleazar. This event serves multiple purposes within God's unfolding plan.

First, it is a stark demonstration of God's unyielding holiness and justice. Aaron, despite his esteemed position as the first high priest, and his lifelong service to the Lord, faced the consequence of his disobedience at Meribah. His mortality and the ending of his office underscored that no one, not even God's most senior appointed leader, is exempt from accountability for sin. This event powerfully conveys that God judges sin, even in those He chooses for leadership, and reinforces His demand for obedience.

Second, the public and ceremonial nature of the garment transfer is deeply significant. The high priestly garments were more than attire; they were sacred insignia, representing the authority, responsibility, and anointing of the office. Moses's act of stripping Aaron and clothing Eleazar, on a mountaintop witnessed by all three, ensured that the transition was clearly divinely appointed and legitimate, maintaining order and preventing contention. This wasn't merely a private family affair but a national spiritual event, guaranteeing the continuity of intercession and ritual purity essential for Israel's covenant relationship with God. The continuity of the priesthood, specifically the High Priest, was critical for Israel’s access to God and the performance of atonement rituals, maintaining the integrity of the covenant.

Third, this transition foreshadows greater truths in Christ. The necessity of succession due to Aaron's death (and the deaths of all subsequent Levitical priests) highlights the temporary and imperfect nature of the Old Covenant priesthood. Hebrews 7 profoundly contrasts this mortal priesthood with the eternal, unchangeable priesthood of Jesus Christ, who "holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever" (Heb 7:24). Unlike Aaron, Jesus does not need successors, for His atoning work is complete and His mediatorial role is eternal, perfected by His resurrection and ascension. Aaron's death signifies the passing of a shadow, while Christ’s unending life is the embodiment of the substance.

The event thus solidifies critical theological concepts: divine justice for disobedience, the order and sacredness of God's appointed offices, and the inherent limitations of human mediatorship pointing towards a perfect and eternal High Priest to come.