Phinehas

Phinehas was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 6:25). He is most remembered for his zealous act of killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were engaging in sexual immorality and idolatry, thus turning away God's wrath from the people (Numbers 25:7-11). As a result, God granted Phinehas and his descendants a covenant of perpetual priesthood (Numbers 25:12-13; PsalmNumbers 106:30-31). Phinehas also played important roles in other events. He was sent along with other leaders to confront the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding an altar they had built, which was seen as a potential act of rebellion against God (Joshua 22:13-32). He served as a priest during the time of the judges and was consulted before the Israelites went to battle against the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 20:28). Phinehas was succeeded by his son Abishua in the line of high priests (1 Chronicles 6:4-5, 50). He was remembered as a faithful priest who had charge of the gatekeepers in the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:20) and was part of Ezra's lineage (Ezr.7.5; 8.2).