Pinchas (Phinehas)
Pinchas is replete with Sod pointing to Mashiach. Sod is the part of the method of interpretation known as PaRDeS which is an acronym for Pshat, the direct meaning, Remez or hint, Drash or teaching for application and Sod for Mystery or mystical. For example, the name Pinchas can be broken down into—Peh meaning face and Chas meaning pious- face of pity or even bolt of piety and also peh and nachash—face of the serpent. These point to Messiah referring back to the verses in Torah— the bronze serpent being lifted up on the pole by Moses pointing to our healing as we look up to Messiah and the passage in Genesis 3:15 after the serpent deceived Eve and was cursed, having been defeated by Mashiach. The action that Pinchas took bothers our sages. They argue that Pinchas took matters into his own hands by killing the Zimri, a prince of the tribe of Simeon and Cozbi, a Midianite princess. In our traditions they equate Pinchas with Eliyahu to the point that they say that he too never died; that his deed was committed out of a sense of righteousness. He is given the same seat as Eliyahu, the seat of Cohen Gadol at the Brit Mila. When we understand Pinchas we can see how Yeshua has fulfilled every minute detail.
Pinchas was a zealot in the same vein as Yochanan Matevil, or John the Baptiser who was most probably an Essene judging from his dress, his refusal to be involved in any way with the Temple and also was calling his people to repent from their sin. He accused Herod of living in sin and was then put to death. Yeshua said that Yochanan had come in the spirit of Eliyahu ha navi.
Zimri and Cozbi were direct results of Bilam telling Balak how to destroy Israel by enticing the men with the beautiful Midianite women who would lead them into idolatry. Moshe ordered all the men who were with these women to be hung. We do not read how many died but we know that a plague had broken out. Zimri’s arrogance and intentional disobedience caused Pinchas to put a spear through the two of them. Zimri had defiantly walked with Cozbi into the camp where the Presence of G-d dwelled in the mishkan bringing in the idolatry of Baal Peor. Pinchas’ action put a stop to the plague but 24,000 had already died. Bringing her inside the camp was an atrocious act especially when we remember that anything unclean had to be put outside the camp. Remember Miriam when she had leprosy was put outside the camp for 7 days. This was an open challenge to Moshe’s leadership and G-d’s authority.
By putting a stop to this act of defiance, Pinchas was given a covenant of peace (Brit Shalom) or an eternal priesthood. In the Torah word, Shalom is spelled with a broken vav. Some of our sages say that this refers to the messiah who would be broken and has an eternal priesthood. This covenant of peace can only be given to us by Adonai Shalom, the G-d of peace. Our Yeshua is our peacemaker forever and without him we cannot have the peace of G-d. It is a wondrous picture that only our G-d in His majesty can demonstrate to us.
Zimri in Hebrew means songs and Cosbi from the same root as bar Kosiba, (later changed to Kochba) the false messiah, and it means liar or demagogue. Both together suggest a song of seduction which enticed Israel into sin. Golden nuggets can been see in their death — in order for the plague to be stopped, Zimri, a sinful man needed to be pierced to his death. Yeshua became sin and was pierced in order for mankind to be cured of their sin. The piercing of Cozbi who was a gentile woman — Yeshua our Messiah represents both male and female, both the Jewish and Gentile world and he is the Corban for all!
Next we see a new census; the first census was taken when we were in the desert 2 years after the exodus and here is it 38 years later when we were almost into the Promised Land. If we compare the numbers, they are almost the same but the amounts in each tribe had changed due to the disobedience of various tribes and Israelites, such as: Korach and his families of Datan and Aviram as well as those who died during the various struggles and trials along their 40 year journey. Of course we see that the only two of the original group to enter the land would be Joshua and Caleb representing Ephraim and Judah. As we can see in Ezekiel 37 these two sticks will come together forming a “covenant of peace” where all nations will be as one. Judah represents the Israel from the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Ephraim represents the Israel comprised of the remnant of the nations. G-d divided them so that Ephraim would be dispersed into the world, mix with the gentiles and bring them back to Israel. These are the Israelite gerim.
After the census of the men is taken and the land is given out, we read the case of Zelophehad who had 5 daughters and no sons of the tribe of Joseph. The daughters brought their case to Moshe who then took it to G-d. They wanted to be counted in as being inheritors of their parcel of land in Israel. G-d agreed but this brought in the ruling that they had to marry within their own tribe or they would lose their identity and their portion of land would be lost to another tribe. This is certainly proof that the lineage comes from the father and not the mother as the rabbis insist today.
In the last chapter we read about the offerings where there are always 7 lambs plus 1 ram. Our rabbis say that this refers to the sacrifice of Isaac where the ram was given as the substitute for his death. The number 8 in gematria means completion, covenant and new beginnings. We can certainly see Messiah in all this.
In Chapter 27 there is a change of leadership with the smicha given to Joshua. There is a very important lesson for leaders from this portion. The priesthood was inherited but not so the administrative role of Moshe. This was a calling and G-d’s appointment. Moshe was called by G-d and anyone who tried to force themselves into that position was stopped by G-d.
There are three important principles to learn from this:
1) G-d is the One who does the calling
2) The person himself can see the calling upon his own life
3) The community recognizes and accepts the calling of the leader
Being a leader called by G-d is not being a dictator who imposes himself upon the community. He cannot do it by means of force or personal persuasion with charm.
If you do not have the calling for the position you are in, you will be miserable. If you do not respond to the call of G-d, you will be miserable. If the community does not acknowledge the calling upon you as leader, don’t push it.
Once Joshua was chosen, he knew it and followed Moshe who transferred his power to him through smicha. This was acknowledged by the community who then followed him in the same way they had followed Moshe. A true leader must be honest with the people, always telling them the truth even when it is not popular. He must not be double tongued or talk out of two sides of his face. When people in the community doubt the integrity of the leader, either they have to leave or he does but they cannot remain together. It will only cause division in the end. There are no neutral positions in this case. When people challenged Moshe’s leadership they were dealt with harshly by G-d.
Pinchas was not neutral when killed Zimri. He represented the Truth of G-d. The parashah of Pinchas speaks about correct leadership. We do not of course have to resort to killing someone but we do need to confront those who are doing wrong with clarity. Remember that when we are confronted with what we do wrong, we do not need to make excuses. A true believer in G-d is known by his faults. Our biblical forefathers were not perfect or heroes. We do not need to be perfect and we cannot be good but we can confess our sin and make it right before others and before G-d. Then He is faithful to forgive us and to help us make the changes that we need. Pray that G-d will show us where we are failing so that we do not keep doing it and pray the He will help us to be better people. Let us examine ourselves constantly and ask G-d to change our hearts as in Psalm 139:23-24
May G-d add blessings to His Word.