7319. 'And the river will stink' means an aversion to it. This is clear from the meaning of 'stinking' as an aversion, dealt with in 7161; and from the meaning of 'the river', here the river of Egypt turned into blood, as falsified truth. It should be recognized that in the next life nothing is more abominable and consequently nothing stinks more obnoxiously than profaned truth. It is like the stench of a dead body, which is given off when the living flesh dies. For falsity does not stink unless it is placed alongside truth, nor does evil unless it is placed alongside good; the character of each is recognized not from its own odour but from that of its opposite. From this one may realize the extent to which profaned truth stinks. Profaned truth is falsity blended with truth; but falsified truth is falsity not blended with truth, only attached to truth and dominating it.

Aaron was the brother of Moses. He symbolizes two things, at different stages of the story.

During the first part of the exodus, when he was Moses' spokesperson, Moses represents the Word as it truly is, as it is understood in heaven, while Aaron represents the Word in its external sense, as it is understood by people in the world. This is why Aaron talks for Moses, and the Lord says of him "he shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God." (Exodus 4:16)

Later, after the Tabernacle was built and he was inaugurated as high priest (see Leviticus 8,9), Aaron represents the Lord as to the Divine Good, and Moses represents the Lord as to the Divine Truth.

In Exodus 28:1, Aaron signifies the conjunction of Divine Good with Divine Truth in the Divine Human of the Lord. (Arcana Coelestia 9806, 9936)

In Exodus 32:1, Aaron represents the external of the Word, of the church, and of worship, separate from the internal. (Arcana Coelestia 10397)

In Exodus 4:14, before he was initiated into the priesthood, Aaron represents the doctrine of good and truth. (Arcana Coelestia 6998)