Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, &c.— God, in reward of the undissembled zeal of Phinehas, confirmed to him the right he had of succeeding to Eleazar, as his son, in the office of the priesthood; and promised him that the same august privilege should be perpetuated in his family. It seems, from the words in the 12th verse, as if the priesthood was a thing different from the covenant of peace. Some of the Jewish interpreters conclude from this text, that God had promised to Phinehas a privilege of procuring pardon thenceforward for guilty persons. But there is nothing more indefinite in the sacred language than the word peace: it is made use of to denote all kind of prosperity, and in particular that of long life. Phinehas did actually enjoy it in this last sense, as appears from the Book of Judges. The promise of an everlasting priesthood, according to the language of the Old Testament, was likewise accomplished. The Jews reckon twelve high priests of the race of Phinehas from his time down to Solomon; nine more from this period to the captivity; and fifteen from the re-establishment to the time of Antiochus Eupator; the last of whom was Onias, slain by Lysias. It is true, the high-priesthood was for a while in the family of Ithamar, but it soon returned to that of Phinehas. Eli was the first of the family of Ithamar who enjoyed the office; which returned to the house of Phinehas in the person of Zadock, where it continued even to the Maccabees. Dr. Shuckford proposes another explanation of this passage, which some, perhaps, may think more satisfactory; by supposing the priesthood to be here called everlasting, not as expressing a design of a perpetual continuance of it to the descendants of Phinehas, but as limiting it to the family of Aaron throughout their generations. Accordingly it might be translated thus, It shall be to him, and to his seed after him, a covenant or grant of the everlasting priesthood; intimating, that God had given to Phinehas, and his seed after him, a grant of the priesthood, which was limited to Aaron and his descendants, to all generations; and is therefore called the everlasting priesthood. Exodus 40:15 which promise was not in vain; for Phinehas might have died before Eleazar, and so never have enjoyed Aaron's priesthood. For the expression is, made an atonement for the children of Israel, see note on ch. Numbers 8:19 upon which atonement Dr. Beaumont remarks,—"So the proverb is fulfilled, Proverbs 16:14."
REFLECTIONS.—Never was wickedness more daring than in Zimri, nor zeal more flaming than in Phinehas. While Moses and the people were, with penitential tears, lamenting their sin, and deprecating the judgments they had provoked,—with barefaced impudence, as if glorying in his shame, this prince of Simeon leads a harlot of quality openly to his tent. Note; Shamelessness in sin is usually the consequence of lewdness. Phinehas, fired with jealousy for God's glory, and indignation at the horrid crime, hastens to follow this shameless pair, surprises them in their crime, and, plunging his javelin through them both, executes upon them, as God's magistrate, condign vengeance. Though some sinners are too great for human laws, let them know that there is a sword of God which will reach them.—God expresses his approbation of the deed, by a removal of the plague which had begun, and settles the entail of the priesthood on the children of Phinehas; because, by his zeal as a priest, and fidelity as a magistrate, he had turned away wrath from the congregation. Note; (1.) The impartial distribution of justice upon offenders, is one chief means to rid the land of sin, and save it from God's plagues. (2.) In God's cause we must not fear to rebuke the greatest or most daring sinners. (3.) God will recompense those who are zealous in his cause with peculiar blessings.