Son of Eleazar and Grandson of Aaron
Phinehas is the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. This means that Phinehas is Aaron’s grandson.
While the Israelites are in the desert getting ready to take the promised land, an issue of sexual immorality arises between some of the men and Moabite women. This effectively aligns them with Baal. The Lord is infuriated and orders their execution.
Even as the people mourn the death of these men, one Israelite man doesn’t understand—or doesn’t care. He brings a Midianite woman into camp and into his tent. Everyone sees this. It’s as if he’s flaunting what he’s going to do.
Phinehas won’t have it. He grabs a spear. Going into the man’s tent, he drives it through the man and into the woman. God’s anger subsides. A plague that has already killed 24,000 people stops.
Though we may question Phinehas for his judgment and violent action, God does not. He implicitly affirms it.
But it’s an overstretch to interpret this passage as advocating violence—even murder—in God’s name. A better conclusion is to be ready to take decisive action for the things that matter to God.
Phinehas acted with zeal, and this pleased God.
In what is a likely connection, Phinehas emerges as the leading priest among his generation.
When have we been passive when we should have acted?
When have we overreacted when a more God-honoring approach would have been moderation?
[Read about Phinehas in Numbers 25:6–13. Discover more in Numbers 31:6–7 and Joshua 22:13–33.]
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More Old Testament Sinners and Saints is part of the Bible Character Sketches series.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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