Numbers 25:12

Wherefore say,.... Moses is bid to tell what follows to Phinehas himself, for his comfort and encouragement, and to the people of Israel, that they might take notice of it, and give him honour and

Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: No JFB commentary on these verses.

i.e. The covenant of an everlasting priesthood, as it is expounded, , which is called a covenant of peace, partly with respect to the happy effect of this heroical action of his, whereby he made peace between God and his people; and partly with regard to the principal end and use of the priestly office, which was constantly to do that which Phinehas now did, even to mediate between God and men, to obtain and preserve his own and Israel’ s peace and reconciliation with God, by offering up sacrifices, and incense, and prayers to God on their behalf, ,48, as also by turning them away from iniquity, which is the only peace-breaker, and by teaching and pressing the observation of that law, which is the only bond of their peace, .

(12) My covenant of peace.—Phinehas, as one who was zealous for the honour of God and of the house of the Lord, was a fitting type of Christ, in whom the prediction of the Psalmist received its accomplishment, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (Psalms 69:9; John 2:17). The covenant of grace is described in Isaiah 54:10 and in Malachi 2:5 as the covenant of peace.

Verse 12. - 13. My covenant of peace - of an everlasting priesthood] As the word peace implied all kinds of blessings, both spiritual and temporal, it may mean no more here than the promise of God, to grant him and his family the utmost prosperity in reference to both worlds. The everlasting priesthood refers properly to the priesthood of Christ which was shadowed out by the priesthood under the law; no matter in what family it was continued. Therefore the כהנת עולם kehunnath olam, or eternal priesthood, does not merely refer to any sacerdotal ministrations which should be continued in the family of Phinehas, during the Mosaic dispensation, but to that priesthood of Christ typified by that of Aaron and his successors. The priesthood alone is everlasting, and a covenant or grant of that was made to Phinehas, and his descendants. The Jews reckon twelve high priests of the race of Phinehas, from this time to the days of Solomon, nine more from that time to the captivity, (see 1 Chronicles 6:4; 1 Chronicles 6:15), and fifteen from their return to the time of Antiochus Eupator, the last of whom was Onias, slain by Lysias. Ezra, the great priest and scribe, was of this line, Ezra 7:1; Ezra 7:5. The family of Ithamar, uncle of Phinehas, had the priesthood for about 150 years; but it was restored to the family of Phinehas in the person of Zadok the priest, 1 Chronicles 6:50, in which it continued in the whole about 950 years. Probably the Maccabees were of the same family; but though this is not certain, there is no evidence against it. See Calmet. God therefore sufficiently fulfilled his promise; he gave to him and his descendants almost the utmost temporal length that could be given of that priesthood which is, in its own nature, eternal. Here then the word עולם olam means, not a limited time, but what is eternal in its duration. See Clarke on Genesis 21:33.

12. my covenant of peace] Cf. Malachi 2:5. The ‘covenant’ here is not a compact between two persons, but an unconditional promise on God’s part.

My covenant of peace - Equivalent to “the covenant of My peace.” God established with Phinehas in particular that covenant which He had made generally with all his people; and among its blessings

12, 13. My covenant of peace — The promise of an everlasting tenure of the priestly office by the family of Phinehas.