Phinehas פִּינְחָס
Wicked son of Eli the priest
Who is Phinehas in the Bible?
Phinehas in the Bible refers to two different biblical figures. The first was the wicked son of Eli the priest who served at the tabernacle in Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3). Along with his brother Hophni, Phinehas abused his priestly position by taking more than his share of sacrificial offerings and committing sexual immorality with women at the tabernacle entrance (1 Samuel 2:12-17). A prophecy declared that both sons would die on the same day, which was fulfilled when the Philistines defeated Israel and killed them in battle (1 Samuel 4:11). A second, more prominent Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and a zealous priest who played a crucial role in stopping a plague by executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman engaged in idolatry at Shittim (Numbers 25:6-18). His righteous zeal earned him God's covenant of perpetual priesthood, distinguishing him from his namesake and making him a significant ancestor in Israel's priestly lineage.
Biography
Phinehas was one of the two sons of Eli, the priest who served in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1Sa.1.3). Along with his brother Hophni, Phinehas was described as a worthless man who did not know the Lord (1Sa.2.12). They abused their priestly duties by taking more than their share of the sacrificial meat and engaging in sexual immorality with the women who served at the entrance of the tabernacle (1Sa.2.13-17, 22).
Eli rebuked his sons for their wicked behavior, but they did not listen (1Sa.2.22-25). As a result, a prophecy was given to Eli that his two sons would die on the same day (1Sa.2.34). This prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle, captured the Ark of the Covenant, and killed Hophni and Phinehas (1Sa.4.11). Upon hearing the news of his sons' deaths and the capture of the Ark, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died (1Sa.4.17-18). Phinehas' wife, who was pregnant, went into labor and died after giving birth to a son named Ichabod, which means "the glory has departed from Israel" (1Sa.4.19-22).
Family
Parents
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 1:3
"Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD."
- 1 Samuel 2:34
"And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day."
- 1 Samuel 4:4
"So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God."
- 1 Samuel 4:11
"The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died."
- 1 Samuel 4:17
"The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פִּינְחָס | Pinechas , the name of three Israelites |
Phinehas
sisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.5">Ezr 7:5, where he is seen to be an ancestor of Ezra). He took a leading part in cleansing Israel from whoredom at Shittim. He there punished the brazen licentiousness of Zimri, prince of Sirecon, by slaying both him and the Midianite woman he had brought into camp (Nu 25:6-18). This incident is referred to in Ps 106:30,31 (compare 1 Macc 2:26,54; Sirach 45:23,24). As priest he accompanied the expedition sent by Moses against Midjan (Nu 31:6). He was chief of the Korahite Levites (1Ch 9:20), and succeeded his father as high priest. While he was in that office the civil war with Benjamin occurred, and it was he who delivered the oracle's decision to fight Benjamin (Jud 20:28). His faithful services secured to his house the succession of the priesthood (Nu 25:11-13). He was sent as ambassador to inquire into the reported idolatry of Reuben, Gad and part of Manasseh (Jos 22:13ff, 30-32). According to Septuagint he was buried with his father in Ephraim on the hill Gibeah Phinehas (see Jos 24:33). His character was marked with strong moral indignation and fine integrity.
(2) The younger son of Eli (1Sa 1:3; 2 Esdras 1:2, "Phinees").
See HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS.
(3) Father of a priest named Eleazar (Ezr 8:33; compare Ezr 8:2; 1 Esdras 8:63, "Phinees").
Henry Wallace
fin'-o-e (Phinoe; the King James Version Phinees): Name of one of the families of temple-servants who went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel (1 Esdras 5:31) equals "Paseah" of Ezr 2:49</ref