Death of Aaron

(Book of Numbers 20:22 - 20:29)
The whole community of Israel departed from Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor.  There, on the border of Edom, Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, "The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors.  He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you disobeyed my orders at the waters Meribah.  You must now escort Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor.  There you will strip Aaron of his priestly vestments and put them on his son, Eleazar, for Aaron will die there and join his ancestors."

Moses did as Jehovah commanded.  They ascended Mount Hor in the sight of the entire community.  Moses removed Aaron's priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar.  And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain.  Moses and Eleazar descended the mountain.  When the Israelite people learned that Aaron had died, they mourned him for 30 days.

Notes
1. Almost 40 years after the Exodus, Aaron is apparently now well passed it, and Jehovah recognizes it is time that he be succeeded by his son Eleazar.  However, there is no retirement in store for Aaron.  He is simply and unceremoniously informed by Jehovah that he must die and, moreover, he must climb a mountain before he can do it.  He is not allowed just to expire in his tent, lying in bed (or whatever they used for a bed), with his family and friends around him -- no last rites or anything.  Jehovah does not allow him what we would view as a gracious death.  It's no wonder that the old man packs it up after climbing the mountain.  Does he die of a coronary or from exhaustion?

2. The changing of the guard, Eleazar taking the role of high priest from his father Aaron, apparently must occur on the top of a mountain, just as Moses received the Ten Commandments on the top of a mountain.  Since the gods come down from the heavens, humans must attempt to meet them halfway and commune with them on high ground, so it seems.  Or perhaps the ceremony simply needed to occur away from the camp and the people.

3.  Moses and Aaron are forbidden from entering the Promised Land because of their disobedience to Jehovah at Meribah.  What disobedience?  They did exactly as Jehovah ordered them.  It was the people who were griping because they didn't have enough water to drink.  Is there some deleted part of the narrative we're not privy to?  And did Jehovah forget about the earlier rebellions and his former declaration about denying the rebellious people (save Joshua and Caleb) access to the Promised Land?  It seems that the thread of the narrative has been disrupted.  Did a new biblical scribe just come on duty?

4. It is not recorded that Aaron was buried, but we assume that he was.  He did merit 30 days of mourning, but the mourning period seems to be the people's idea and not, like practically everything else,  something mandated by Jehovah, who doesn't give the impression of having much regard for his first high priest.  (The Books of Moses seem to be compiled from one source that was pro-Moses and another that was pro-Aaron.)

5. The Mount Hor mentioned here is traditionally identified as Jebel Nari Harun (meaning, in Arabic, Mountain of the Prophet Aaron).  It rises more than 6000 feet above the level of the Dead Sea and is located in Jordan.  A supposed tomb of Aaron is located there, but this identification is not without controversy.  Another, more likely theory places it southwest of the Dead Sea in the Valley of Zin.