Grandson of the high priest Aaron and son of Eleazar. He was commended by God for his righteous zeal.
About Phinehas
The son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron (Exodus 6:25). He was also the father of Abishua (1 Chronicles 6:4, 50). While Eleazar served as high priest, Phinehas was in charge of the gatekeepers of the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:20). Eleazer, his father, was in charge of the gatekeepers when Aaron was chief priest (compare Numbers 3:32).
When the Israelites sinned by worshiping Baal of Peor at Shittim, Phinehas became very angry. He killed both an Israelite man and a Midianite woman because of their immoral behavior (Numbers 25:7). After this action, the God was no longer angry with Israel. God made a special agreement (covenant) of peace with Phinehas, promising that he and his descendants would always serve as priests (Numbers 25:11–13). This deed was counted as righteousness for Phinehas for all generations to come (Psalm 106:30). Except for a short time, when Eli served as high priest (compare 1 Samuel 1–3; 14:3), Phinehas and his descendants served as high priests until the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem temple in AD 70.
After the incident with Baal of Peor, Phinehas joined Israel in fighting against the Midianites (Numbers 31:6). After Israel took control of the land of Canaan, Phinehas received the town of Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim as his inheritance (Joshua 24:33). Later, he was sent with some Israelite leaders to ask about an altar that was built on the west side of the Jordan River by the Israelite tribes living on the east side (Joshua 22:13, 30–32). At another time, at Bethel, Phinehas promised Israel victory in battle against the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 20:28). His descendants, Ezra the scribe and Gershom, returned with their families to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon (Ezra 7:5; 8:2).
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Eleazar (Son of Aaron), Daughter of Putiel
- Child
- Abishua (Son of Phinehas)
- Uncles 3
- Nadab, Abihu, Ithamar
Key References
On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,
The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
But Phinehas stood and intervened, and the plague was restrained.
All Scripture References (16)
Exodus (1)
Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.
Numbers (3)
On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,
“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.
And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
Joshua (5)
The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.
Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”
Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead.
Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.
Judges (1)
and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
1 Chronicles (3)
the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.
Ezra (2)
Psalms (1)
But Phinehas stood and intervened, and the plague was restrained.