We can imagine the veteran priest, now one hundred twenty-three years of age, as he rose up in the morning, took one final look at his beloved Ithamar and the grandchildren, tenderly kissed the weeping Elisheba, and started up the slopes of Mount Hor with his staff in his hand.

Moses, and Eleazar, Aaron's oldest living son, were with him. Before they had gone very far up the mountain, Moses removed Aaron's priestly garments and put them on Eleazar. No matter how much anyone is used of the Lord, when he dies the priestly office in which he served on earth is taken from him and given to another. The servant of the Lord has passed into the spirit realm but the burden of ministry must continue in the earth.

All of the congregation were watching for this was a very important event. Aaron was the first high priest of Israel. The glory was now passing to Eleazar.

Aaron mused over the events of his life: the days in Egypt; the fleeing of his brother Moses to the wilderness; the power of God Almighty resting on Moses and himself as they stood boldly before Pharaoh of Egypt; the terrible splendor of Sinai as the Lord's Presence sanctified the stone of the mountain.

The never-ending pain of the deaths of Nadab and Abihu was still with him.

Aaron's mind was touched with fear, then wonderment as he obeyed this last commandment of the Lord. What would happen when he reached the summit? Would the holy Shechinah blaze out from the rock and destroy him as it had his two sons?

The higher he climbed the stronger he felt. He could run if he wished, His feet were so light! A carpet of green grass covered the ground beneath him. Aaron had never seen such gorgeous flowers. Birds of every hue were singing more melodiously than he could remember.

Four people were walking toward him from just ahead. "Mother! Father!" Aaron exclaimed. "And there are my boys!"

Those watching from afar saw the empty husk of the first high priest collapse to the ground.

The passing of Aaron's younger brother was as precious in the sight of the Lord.

Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: (Deuteronomy 32:49,50)

Moses had been brought into such an intimate relationship with the Lord that the Lord himself buried Moses, in a valley in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 34:6).

Moses and apparently Aaron also were in the best of health when they left the earth to go to be with their relatives. They possessed the physical strength necessary to climb a mountain. This is the way death ought to be: not an overcoming of our strength by the devil but a yielding up of our spirit when the appointed time comes.

To be continued.