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In a most intense chapter, the people of Israel join themselves to Baal-Peor (lord of Peor) at Shittim in Numbers 25. They bow down to the mighty ones of Moab and incur the displeasure and wrath of YHVH.
Zimri, of the tribe of Simeon, brings the Midianite woman named Cozbi into the Israelite camp before the Tent of Appointment and in the sight of Moses and all the people. Some commentators believe the Israelite man and Midianite woman begin to have intercourse, desecrating the sacred Israelite Dwelling Place of YHVH, and that the text intentionally obscures this due to the outrageous offense of such an evil act. Whether they were that bold or not, the text says Zimri takes her into the tent and when Phinehas sees this, he goes in to the inner room and runs them both through with a spear. This righteous act turns back the wrath of YHVH and earns him a convent of peace, an everlasting priesthood.
Numbers 25:10-11
“And YHVH spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘Pinehas, son of El’azar, son of Aharon the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Yisra’el, because he was ardent with My ardour in their midst, so that I did not consume the children of Yisra’el, in My ardour.’ ”
Phinehas was the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron. Phinehas acted with great zeal for YHVH and went on to serve Israel for many years…but what does this story tell us today about being a man, a man ardent with the ardour of YHVH?
It’s perhaps easy for us to assume this story is meant to gird us with intense zeal for spotting sin and evil in the world around us and thereby embolden us to “run it through with a spear.” That may be true to some degree, and yet, Phineas is no random vigilante. He is guardian of the Dwelling Place of YHVH and he serves as a type of “Christ.”
This story holds up a sobering mirror to the Tabernacle of our heart where the Spirit of YHVH dwells. As we peer into it, we ask our Intercessor, “Is there any wicked way in me? If so, let the ardour of Adonai consume me, and run my sin through its belly with a spear in order to rid myself of it this day before Him.”
Author, Jared Gragg
Date, May 26, 2025