Numbers 25:10-15

B. COMMENDATION OF PHINEHAS vv. 10-15
TEXT

Numbers 25:10. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 11. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13. And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. 14. Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. 15. And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 25:10. Then the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 11. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my anger from the people of Israel in that he was zealous for my sake, so that I have not consumed the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12. Therefore say, -Behold, I give to him my promise of peace: 13. and it shall be to him, and to his descendants after him, the promise of a perpetual priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the people of Israel.-' 14. Now the name of the man of Israel who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a father's house among the Simeonites. 15, And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was the head of the people of a father's house in Midian.

COMMENTARY

Whatever the present-day reaction of self-appointed critics may be to the immediate and decisive actions of Phinehas, the Scriptures leave no doubt about the mind of God in the affair. His full endorsement and reassuring words of commendation mean far more than the piddling comments of those who would set their own criteria for Divine conduct. He not only approves of Phinehas-' deed; He uses it as the basis for asserting the selection of the Aaronic lineage for the high priesthood through the grandson of the initial high priest. His zeal was spontaneous, and in rigid defense of the order God wished among His people. The Lord credits him with having turned away His wrath from the peopleno small accomplishment.

The pledge made to Phinehas established an eternal priesthood for himself and his descendants irrevocably. The lineage remained in this position until the time of the Herodians, with the brief exception of a temporary interruption during the days of Eli (see 1 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 2; 1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 14:3).

Both Zimri and Cozbi were individuals of prominent families and high stations in life. They may have felt, therefore, that they were above condemnation or criticism. This fact would have made many of the people reluctant to report their odious conduct, for fear of reprisal from the other members of the families. When such an attitude permeates those of noble position, and their conduct is either tolerated or unrebuked, we may well expect such results as are found in this incident. But God is no respecter of persons, and it was unthinkable that He should let the guilty pair escape unpunished. The arm of His vindication reached out through Phinehas.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

472.

How does God's evaluation of the act of Phinehas differ from that of the self-appointed critics-'?

473.

How could the act of a single man turn away the wrath of God from an entire nation?

474.

Explain the use of the word jealousy in reference to the attitude of God toward Israel (see also Exodus 20:5).

475.

Precisely what did God promise to Phinehas in recognition of his act?

476.

How long did this promise actually last?

477.

Does God expect more of those who hold important stations in life than from the common people? Defend your answer.