Pinchas, Numbers 25: 10-30:1

Parshat Pinchas is named after one of the grandsons of Aaron and son of the reigning High Priest, Eleazar because Pinchas at the conclusion of last week’s portion—slays an Israelite and his foreign wife for the sin of idolatry. More technically, they are killed by Pinchas for violating the boundary of the Tabernacle. For this act of sacrifice—Pinchas stays God’s anger at the Children of Israel and is rewarded with the priesthood for himself and his descendants.

Pinchas’ zealotry is rewarded. The text says, “… he took an impassioned action for his God, thus making expiation for the Israelites.” To the Biblical ear this seems a reasonable task. Time and again God admonishes the Children of Israel to keep far from idol worship. Time and again, the Children of Israel violate the rule of idol worship and are punished. Whether it is with the sin of the Golden Calf or in this case of Zimri son of Salu, Chieftan of a Simenonite ancestral house, the Children of Israel must atone for this grave sin. Through Pinchas’ slaying of Zimri and the woman, Cozbi daughter of the Midianite chieftan atonement is made for such a grievous sin. Further, whenever a non-priest tries to enter the Tabernacle for any purpose or even a false purpose as with Nadav and Abihu, the punishment is immediate death. Zimri and Cozbi too, whatever their purpose in trying to enter the Tabernacle are killed.

Yet, in our day and time such zealotry as displayed by Pinchas as well as the idolatry displayed by Zimri is both an anathema. Faith is one thing, but when one’s faith leads to murder I believe we must raise serious questions and challenges to our spiritual beliefs. Further we much question the use of what appears to be human sacrifice to atone for the sins of the idolaters.

It is such impassioned actions based on religious principles that continue to cause incredible murder and violence in our world today. One look at the suicide bombers and the terror and murder they inflict should give us all pause to examine our hearts and our faith and how we express that faith.

We can learn from this text by also continuing to read the rest of the parasha—it says.
“Command the Israelite people and say to them: Be punctilious in presenting to Me at stated times the offerings of food due Me as offerings by fire of please odor to Me.”

We learn yet again, that the expressions of our faith require a certain focus and concentration. Our expressions of faith require concentration and fulfilling the requirements with 100 per cent effort. Our faith requires us to live it fully. But we are also to live our faith by choosing life as it teaches in Deuteronomy.

Thus our faith must be life affirming in all we do.

Posted by Lee at July 6, 2004 02:38 PM