Son of Eleazar the priest. He was the third high priest, from the first order of the priesthood. Aaron, Eleazar and Phinehas. The name seems to have been derived Panah, to shine, See an honorable testimony given by the Lord himself to this man. (Num. xxv. 6 - 13.) There was another Phinehas in Scripture, but of a very different character, namely, Phineas the son of Eli. (See 1 Sam. it. 27. to the end.)
son of Eleazar, and grandson of Aaron, third high priest of the Jews, A.M. 2571 to about A.M. 2590, B.C. 1414. He is particularly commended in Scripture for zeal in vindicating the glory of God, when the Midianites had sent their daughters into the camp of Israel, to tempt the Hebrews to fornication and idolatry, Num 25:7. On this account the Lord promised the priesthood to Phinehas by perpetual covenant; evidently including this tacit condition, that his children should continue faithful and obedient: for we know the priesthood passed out of the family of Eleazar and Phinehas to that of Ithamar, and that it returned not to the posterity of Eleazar until after about a hundred and fifty years.
Phinehas, 1
Phin´ehas, (mouth of brass), son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the high-priest. An incident which illustrates the zealous and somewhat passionate character of Phinehas, occurred before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. The Israelites were encamped in the plains of Moab, and were lamenting the sin into which they had been seduced by the Midianites, when a prince of Judah named Zimri was beheld conducting a woman of Midian named Cozbi to his tent. The licentious effrontery of this act kindled the wrath of Phinehas, who hastened after them into the tent, and transfixed them both with his javelin (Num 25:7, sq.). This bold act pointed out Phinehas to Moses as a proper person to accompany as priest the expedition which was immediately after sent forth, under the command of Joshua, against the Midianites, and by which the cause of the deluded Israelites was abundantly avenged (Num 31:6, sq.). After the conquest of the Promised Land, when the warriors of the two and half tribes beyond the Jordan were permitted to return to their homes, Phinehas was at the head of the deputation sent after them to inquire and remonstrate concerning the altar which, on their way, they had set up on the bank of the Jordan; and it was he doubtless who pronounced the forcible address to the supposed offenders. He was certainly the first to express his satisfaction and joy at the explanation which was given, and which, with a lightened heart, he bore back to the tribes assembled at Shiloh (Jos 22:5, sq.).
It appears that while his father lived Phinehas filled the post of superintendent or chief of the Levites, probably after Eleazar became high-priest (Num 3:32; 1Ch 9:20). At the death of his father he succeeded to the pontificate (Jos 24:33); but the only case in which he appears officially in the Bible is in connection with the unhappy circumstances recorded at the end of the book of Judges, in which he comes forward as high-priest to consult Jehovah. This mention of his name enables us to conclude that the chronological place of these occurrences would be rather towards the beginning than at the latter end of the book in which they are found [JUDGES; PRIEST].
Phinehas, 2
Phinehas, son of Eli the high-priest, and brother of Hophni [ELI; HOPHNI; SAMUEL].
1. Son of Elezar, and grandson of Aaron the high priest. His zealous an decided character was shown in the prompt execution of he profligate prince of Judah, and his companion a woman of Midian, in the plains of Moab, Num 25:1-17 . For this bold and timely service, the high priesthood was secured to his family, also remaining faithful; and except during an interval from Eli to Zadok, his posterity were at the head of the priesthood till the destruction of the temple. Phinehas led the host of Israel in the subsequent battle with the Midianites, Num 31:6 Psa 106:30-31 . He was at the head of the deputation sent to remonstrate with the tribes beyond the Jordan respecting the altar they had erected, Jos 22:5-34 . During the life of his father, he was superintendent of the Levites, Num 3:32 ; and afterwards became the high priest, the will of God, as to the punishment of the men of Gibeash, Jdg 20:28 .\par 2. A son of Eli the high priest. See HOPHNI.\par
Phin’ehas. (mouth of brass).
1. Son of Eleazar, and grandson of Aaron. Exo 6:25. He is memorable for having while quite a youth, by his zeal and energy at the critical moment of the licentious idolatry of Shittim, appeased the divine wrath, and put a stop to the plague which was destroying the nation. Num 25:7. (B.C. 1452). For this, he was rewarded by the special approbation of Jehovah, and by a promise that the priesthood should remain in his family forever. Num 25:10-13. He was appointed to accompany as priest the expedition by which the Midianites were destroyed. Num 31:6.
Many years later, he also headed the party which was despatched from Shiloh to remonstrate against the altar which the TransJordanic tribes were reported to have built near Jordan. Jos 22:13-32. In the partition of the country, he received an allotment of his own -- a hill on Mount Ephraim which bore his name. After Eleazar’s death, he became high priest -- the third of the series. In this capacity, he is introduced as giving the oracle to the nation, during the whole struggle with the Benjamites on the matter of Gibeah. Jdg 20:28. The verse which closes the book of Joshua is ascribed to Phinehas, as the description of the death of Moses, at the end of Deuteronomy, is to Joshua. The tomb of Phinehas, a place of great resort to both Jews and Samaritans, is shown at Awertah, four miles southeast of Nablus.
2. Second son of Eli. 1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 2:34; 1Sa 4:4; 1Sa 4:11; 1Sa 4:17; 1Sa 4:19; 1Sa 14:3 Phinehas was killed with his brother by the Philistines when the Ark was captured. (B.C. 1125). See Eli.
3. A Levite, of Ezra’s time, Ezr 8:33, unless the meaning be that Eleazar was of the family of the great Phinehas.
An Egyptian name in the time of Rameses II.
1. Eleazar’s son; Aaron’s grandson (Exo 6:25). His mother was of Putiel’s daughters. By his zeal in avenging the Lord’s cause on the Simeonitc prince Zimri, and Cosbi his Midianite paramour, Phinehas turned away Jehovah’s wrath, making an atonement for Israel, and was given Jehovah’s covenant of peace, an everlasting priesthood (Numbers 25; Psa 106:30-31). Phinehas, with the holy instruments and trumpets to blow, accompanied the expedition which avenged Jehovah and Israel on Midian (Num 31:6, etc.). Phinehas, as ambassador with ten princes, was delegated by Israel to remonstrate with the two and a half tribes as to the altar the latter built at Jordan; these satisfied the delegates and Israel as to their intentions. Thus was Phinehas a mediator of Israel’s brotherly unity, as before he had vindicated Israel’s purity (Jos 22:13-34).
Lastly Phinehas stood before the ark inquiring of Jehovah for Israel, "shall I go yet again ... against Benjamin my brother?" (Jdg 20:23; Jdg 20:28.) The same zeal for the purity yet brotherhood of Israel characterized him now in old age as in his youth. His zeal, i.e. the faith that prompted it, "was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore" (compare Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3). Phinehas had an allotment in Mount Ephraim; here on a hill bearing his name his father Eleazar was buried (Jos 24:33). The closing verses, concerning Joshua’s death, etc., are ascribed to Phinehas (Baba barbra, in Fabricius, 893.) Eli of Ithamar’s line interrupted the succession of the line of Phinehas; Zadok resumed it under Solomon. The tomb of Phinehas is shown at Awertah, four miles S.E. of Nablus, in the center of the village, within an area overshadowed by an old vine.
2. Second son of Eli, killed with Hophni, in battle with the Philistines (1Sa 1:3); according to the prophecy: 1Sa 2:34; 1Sa 4:4; 1Sa 4:11; 1Sa 4:17; 1Sa 4:19; 1Sa 14:3.
3. A Levite (Ezr 8:33).
Phinehas (fïn’e-has), brazen mouth. 1. A son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, Exo 6:25; 1Ch 6:4; 1Ch 6:50, was high priest of the Jews for nearly 20 years. Bus zeal and promptitude in punishing the Bin of Zimri was rewarded by the promise to his family of perpetual succession in the Jewish priesthood. Num 25:6-15. This promise was fulfilled; for except the interval from Eli to Zadok, the priesthood continued in the family of Phinehas until the destruction of the temple and the Babylonian captivity. 2. A son of Eli, and noted for his wickedness. 1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 2:34; 1Sa 4:4; 1Sa 4:11; 1Sa 4:17; 1Sa 4:19; 1Sa 14:3. 3. A Levite in the time of Ezra. Ezr 8:33.
[Phin’ehas]
1. Son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron. He showed his zeal for God in slaying Zimri and Cozbi, for which he was commended by God, who promised His ’covenant of peace’ to him and his seed, even ’the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.’ He succeeded Eleazar as high priest. Exo 6:25; Num 25:7-13; Num 31:6; Jos 22:13-32; Jdg 20:28; 1Ch 6:4; 1Ch 6:50; 1Ch 9:20; Ezr 7:5; Ezr 8:2; Psa 106:30.
2. Son of Eli: he degraded the priesthood by his wickedness, and was slain with his brother Hophni by the Philistines when the ark was taken. He was father of Ahitub and Ichabod; his wife, overcome with sorrow, dying when the latter was born. 1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 2:34; 1Sa 4:4-19; 1Sa 14:3.
3. Father of Eleazar who returned from exile. Ezr 8:33.
By: Richard Gottheil, Samuel Krauss
Guardian of the treasury at Jerusalem. In the last days of Jerusalem, in the year 70 C.E., he followed the example of his priestly colleague Jesus b. Thebouthi, and betrayed his trust; collecting many of the linen coats of the priests, their girdles, much purple and silk which had been prepared for the sacred curtain, and the costly spices for the holy incense, to save his life he went over to the Romans (Josephus, "B. J." vi. 8, § 3). He appears to be identical with the Phinehas mentioned in the Mishnah Sheḳalim v. 1, who was guardian of the sacred wardrobe. See Phinehas b. Samuel.
PHINEHAS.—1. The son of Eleazar, who was the third son of Aaron. Both his name and that of his mother Putiel are perhaps of Egyptian origin. The only certain occurrence of the name in a pre-exilic writing is in Jos 24:33; a hill (Gibeath Pinhas) in Ephraim was named after him, where his father and (LXX
A. H. M‘Neile.
(1) Son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron (Exo 6:25; compare 1Ch 6:4; 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 (Num 25:6-18). This incident is referred to in Psa 106:30, Psa 106:31 (compare 1 Macc 2:26, 54; Sirach 45:23, 24). As priest he accompanied the expedition sent by Moses against Midjan (Num 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 (Jdg 20:28 ff). His faithful services secured to his house the succession of the priesthood (Num 25:11-13). He was sent as ambassador to inquire into the reported idolatry of Reuben, Gad and part of Manasseh (Jos 22:13 ff, 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”).
Of the biblical characters named Phinehas, the most important was the zealous priest who was Aaron’s grandson (Exo 6:25). Phinehas’ father, Eleazar, had succeeded Aaron as high priest (Num 20:25-26), and Phinehas proved himself to be a loyal supporter. When Israelite men brought God’s judgment upon themselves through their immorality with foreign women, Phinehas dealt with the rebels. His swift action saved Israel from destruction (Num 25:1-8; see also 31:1-7). God rewarded Phinehas’ zeal by promising that his descendants would become the chief priestly family in Israel (Num 25:10-13; cf. Jdg 20:27-28). Though zealous for God’s standards, Phinehas proved to be fair and reasonable when he had to listen to complaints and settle disputes (Jos 22:13-16; Jos 22:30-34).
A later priest named Phinehas had no concern at all for God’s standards. He and his brother, who were sons of the priest Eli, corrupted the priesthood so badly that God removed them in a dramatic judgment. The two were killed the same day (1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 2:12-17; 1Sa 2:34; 1Sa 4:4; 1Sa 4:11).