Phinehas פִּינְחָס
Aaron's grandson; zealous priest who opposed idolatry
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 Study available
- Exodus 6:25
"Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families."
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Numbers 3 verses
- Numbers 25:7
"When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the middle of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand."
- Numbers 25:11
"“Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn’t consume the children of Israel in my jealousy."
- Numbers 31:6
"Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand."
Joshua 5 verses Study available
- Joshua 22:13
"The children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:30
"When Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:31
"Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, “Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against Yahweh. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out..."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:32
"Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 24:33
"Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim."
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Judges 1 verse
- Judges 20:28
"and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?” Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”"
1 Chronicles 3 verses
- 1 Chronicles 6:4
"Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,"
- 1 Chronicles 6:50
"These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,"
- 1 Chronicles 9:20
"Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him."
Ezra 2 verses Study available
- 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
"Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פִּינְחָס | H6372G |