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Why did Aaron serve as Mosesâ spokesman before Pharaoh?
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Aaron
Aaron, detail of a 3rd-century fresco from the synagogue at Doura-Europus, Syria; in the National Museum, Damascus
In the biblical narrative, Aaron served as the spokesman for Moses primarily because Moses expressed reluctance to accept his divine commission due to a speech impediment, describing himself as a stammerer.1
When Yahweh called Moses to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt, Moses repeatedly pleaded to be released from the assignment, even after receiving divine assurances. In response to Moses' final desperate plea to send someone else, God remained firm in the mission but accommodated Moses' limitation by appointing his brother, Aaron, to act as his "mouth" or prophet. Consequently, while Moses acted as the primary leader and representative of God, Aaron effectively communicated their demands to the pharaoh.12