Abstract
Aaron should be seen as the tragic hero of the story in Leviticus 10. He is affected not merely by the death of his sons, but also by its shameful circumstances, and the disgrace is emphasized by Moses' conduct. He is caught in an unwinnable contest of honour with the deity; but ultimately he should be seen as being to blame for his own tragedy, owing to his countenance for idolatry among the people. The theme of the father being disgraced by his sons is very widespread in the narrative of the Hebrew Bible; its popularity in the socio-cultural milieu may be accounted for as a means of harmonizing conflicting feelings about powerful families.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.