Phinehas פִּינְחָס
Aaron's grandson; zealous priest who opposed idolatry
Who is Phinehas in the Bible?
Phinehas was the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 6:25). He is most remembered for his zealous act during a crisis of idolatry and sexual immorality, when he killed an Israelite man and a Midianite woman engaged in sin, thereby turning away God's wrath from the people (Numbers 25:7-11). As a reward for his zeal, God granted Phinehas and his descendants a covenant of perpetual priesthood (Numbers 25:12-13, Psalm 106:30-31). He also served as a leader and priest during Israel's settlement of Canaan, notably helping to resolve a potential conflict between the Israelite tribes (Joshua 22:13-32). Phinehas exemplifies the priestly ideal of standing firmly against spiritual compromise and idolatry, even at great personal cost.
Biography
Phinehas was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Exo.6.25). He is most remembered for his zealous act of killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were engaging in sexual immorality and idolatry, thus turning away God's wrath from the people (Num.25.7-11). As a result, God granted Phinehas and his descendants a covenant of perpetual priesthood (Num.25.12-13; Psalm Num.106.30-31).
Phinehas also played important roles in other events. He was sent along with other leaders to confront the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding an altar they had built, which was seen as a potential act of rebellion against God (Jos.22.13-32). He served as a priest during the time of the judges and was consulted before the Israelites went to battle against the tribe of Benjamin (Jdg.20.28).
Phinehas was succeeded by his son Abishua in the line of high priests (1Ch.6.4-5, 50). He was remembered as a faithful priest who had charge of the gatekeepers in the tabernacle (1Ch.9.20) and was part of Ezra's lineage (Ezr.7.5; 8.2).
Family
Parents
In Scripture
7 biblical books ; 4 with study contentExodus 1 verse
- Exodus 6:25
"Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans."
Study Exodus →
Numbers 3 verses
- Numbers 25:7
"On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,"
- Numbers 25:11
"“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal."
- Numbers 31:6
"And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling."
Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 22:13
"The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:30
"When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:31
"Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:32
"Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 24:33
"Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim."
Study Joshua →
Judges 1 verse
- Judges 20:28
"and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”"
1 Chronicles 3 verses
- 1 Chronicles 6:4
"Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas was the father of Abishua,"
- 1 Chronicles 6:50
"These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,"
- 1 Chronicles 9:20
"In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him."
Ezra 2 verses
- Ezra 7:5
"the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 8:2
"from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel; from the descendants of David, Hattush"
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פִּינְחָס | Pinechas , the name of three Israelites |