_Aaron._--“Then ten years.” _Moses._--“No, not so many.” _Aaron._--“Then surely it must be five.” _Moses._--“I say again, not so many.” Then said Aaron, hesitating, “Is it then one?” And Moses said, “Not so much.” Full of anxiety and alarm, Aaron kept silence. Then said Moses gently, “O my beloved! would it not be good to say of thee as it was said of Abraham, that he was gathered to his fathers in peace?” Aaron was silent. Then said Moses, “If God were to say that thou shouldst die in a hundred years, what wouldst thou say?” Aaron said, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all his works.” _Moses._--“And if God were to say to thee that thou shouldst die this year, what wouldst thou answer?” _Aaron._--“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all his works.” _Moses._--“And if He were to call thee to-day, what wouldst thou say?” _Aaron._--“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” “Then,” said Moses, “arise and follow me.” At that same hour went forth Moses, Aaron, and Eleazer, his son; they ascended into Mount Hor, and the people looked on, nothing doubting, for they knew not what was to take place. Then said the Most High to His angels, “Behold the new Isaac; he follows his younger brother, who leads him to death.” When they had reached the summit of the mountain, there opened before them a cavern. They went in and found a death-bed prepared by the hands of the angels. Aaron laid himself down upon it and made ready for death. Then Moses cried out in grief, “Woe is me! we were two, when we comforted our sister in her death; in this, thy last hour, I am with thee to solace thee; when I die, who will comfort me?” Then a voice was heard from heaven, “Fear not; God himself will be with thee.” On one side stood Moses, on the other Eleazer, and they kissed the dying man on the brow, and took from off him his sacerdotal vestments to clothe Eleazer his son with them. They took off one portion of the sacred apparel, and they laid that on Eleazer; and then they removed another portion, and laid that on Eleazer; and as they stripped Aaron, a silvery veil of clouds sank over him like a pall and covered him. Aaron seemed to be asleep. Then Moses said, “My brother, what dost thou feel?” “I feel nothing but the cloud that envelopes me,” answered he. After a little pause, Moses said again, “My brother, what dost thou feel?” He answered feebly, “The cloud surrounds me and bereaves me of all joy.” And the soul of Aaron was parted from his body. And as it went up Moses cried once more, “Alas, my brother! what dost thou feel?” And the soul replied, “I feel such joy, that I would it had come to me sooner.” Then cried Moses, “Oh thou blessed, peaceful death! Oh, may such a death be my lot!”