Phinehas was a priest who was very concerned that the Name of the LORD not be made worthless by anyone in Israel. He was one of the witness who saw Zimri, a Simeonite, display how little regard he had for the God who had cared for him in the wilderness. Zimri was more concerned with satisfying his sexual passions then following God’s Law. Before Phinehas dispatched his spear into Zimri God acted in judgment on those who took after the Baal of Peor. God ordered their execution and through the sword of the righteous in Israel 24,000 were struck down. There were other leaders who had killed rebels throughout the camp of Israel, so why was Phinehas singled out? Maybe the actions of Phinehas stood out because he acted after everyone else had thought the problem was resolved. Maybe it was because Phinehas acted swiftly against this public display of sin by a leader within Israel. Maybe it was because Phinehas understood the depths of the insult to God.
It took me about 12 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart
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