Numbers 25:10-13 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

As A Result of His Action Phinehas Was Confirmed In The Priesthood (Numbers 25:10-13).

Numbers 25:10

‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “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 consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.” '

God then spoke to Moses and praised what Phinehas had done. Note now the emphasis on the fact that he was a grandson of Aaron the Priest. Like God Himself he had been jealous for the name and honour of Yahweh (Exodus 20:5). As a result he had turned away Yahweh's wrath directed at the children of Israel. If we would deal with sin in our midst, Yahweh would not have to.

Numbers 25:12-13

‘For that reason say, “Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.” '

Because Phinehas had done what he had done out of concern for Yahweh's name and honour God now gave him and his descendants His ‘covenant of wellbeing'. That is, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. By his act he had shown himself a true priest by being jealous for his God and by making a covering for the sins of Israel, an atonement or reconciliation for the children of Israel. Thus he and his were confirmed in a permanent priesthood.

Numbers 25:10-13

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.