ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tokonaki Siulai 3, 2021

Phinehas …has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel

Ko Finiasi…kuo ne fakafoki ‘eku houhau mei ha‘a ‘Isileli

Nomipa 25 (Numbers 25)

(v. 11) Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy

(v. 11) Ko Finiasi, foha ‘o ‘Eliesa, ko e foha ‘o ‘Ēlone ko e taula‘eiki, kuo ne fakafoki ‘eku houhau mei ha‘a ‘Isileli ‘i he‘ene fua‘a ‘aki ‘a e fua‘a ‘a‘aku ‘i honau lotolotonga, ‘a e ā na‘e ‘ikai te u faka‘osi ai ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli ‘i he‘eku fua‘a.

 

* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*

The influence of Balaam is revealed in what is now recorded. The words of Jesus in His letter to the Church at Pergamum, quoted in our last note, are closely connected with the statement with which this chapter opens. "The people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab: for they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods."

This action would appear to have been one of simple neighborliness.

Tarrying in the vicinity of the Moabites, they attended their sacrifices and bowed down at their worship.

In doing this they were violating the principle of Balaam's first vision of them as a people dwelling alone. It was an act of rebellion against God and so a corruption of the Covenant.

The account of the action of Phinehas the priest is a revelation of how one man in loyalty to God and jealous for His honor may stand against the false attitude of a people. Phinehas dared to refuse to take part in these false conventionalities and visited with immediate and terrible punishment the two notorious wrongdoers. His action stayed the plague and saved the nation.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on Numbers*

Because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal: It wasn't only Phinehas' obedience God noticed. He was also noticed because he was zealous with My zeal among them. Phinehas was passionate about the things God was passionate about, and in this respect, he was a man after God's own heart.

It shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood: God blessed Phinehas with the promise that he would be the descendant of Aaron through which the priesthood passed.

This was fitting, because it was the zeal of Phinehas that made atonement for the children of Israel, just as a priest should be the one ministering atonement.