Aaron: The Sin of Hitting the Rock
Question
Is there any rabbi who argues that Aaron was equally deserving of punishment for requedting water at Mamre ?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
It seems to be the mainstream and normative view of most commentators that Aharon was indeed guilty of the sin at the rock just as much as Moshe.
Let’s take a look as the passage (Numbers 20:1-13):
“The people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the desert of Zin in the first month and they stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there. And there was no water for the people so they gathered themselves together against Moshe and against Aharon. And the people quarreled with Moshe, and spoke, saying, “Would that we had died when our brothers died…why have you brought up the congregation…into this wilderness that we and our cattle should die there…and why have you made us come out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? There is no water to drink!”
“And God spoke to Moshe, saying, “Take the rod, and gather the people together, you, and Aharon your brother, and speak to the rock…it shall give water…you will give the people and their animals to drink.” And Moshe took the rod …and MOSHE AND AHARON gathered the people together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” And Moshe lifted up his hand, and with his rod he struck the rock twice; and the water came out abundantly…And God spoke to Moshe to MOSHE AND AHARON, “Because you did not believe Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Therefore, as one can see, regardless of actually who did what, God was angry at both Moshe and Aharon and both are punished with a ban on entering the Promised Land. See the commentaries of Rashi and Ramban on this passage who make this point clear. Also of interest is the Abarbanel commentary who gives a completely different reason why Moshe and Aharon were punished with not being allowed to enter the Promised Land.