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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
20:22-29 The Death of Aaron. Aaron's death fulfills the judgment pronounced on him and Moses in v. 12, namely, that they would not live to enter Canaan. Moses prepares to die in 27:12-23, but his death is not reported until Deuteronomy 34.
20:22-23 The location of Mount Hor is uncertain; it is probably somewhere north of the Gulf of Aqaba, if that is where the border . . . of Edom ran. "The Mount of the Prophet Aaron" near Petra is the traditional location.
20:26 gathered to his people. After death, one is reunited with one's deceased relatives, according to OT belief (see note on 2 Sam. 12:23; this expression also occurs in Gen. 25:8, 17; 35:29; 49:33; Num. 20:24; Deut. 32:50).
20:28 stripped Aaron . . . and put them on Eleazar his son. The death of Aaron meant that his son must succeed him as high priest. The importance of the high priest as supreme mediator between God and Israel is indicated by his garments: the ritual clothing of Eleazar marks his induction into this highest religious office. Hebrews makes much of the superiority of Christ's high priesthood over Aaron's (see Heb. 4:14-10:18).
