“Pinchas… has turned back My wrath… because he was zealous for My sake…” (Numbers 25:11) "Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yossi: The Holy One, blessed be He, said, 'It is right that he should receive his reward.' But the tribes despised him..." (Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 21:1)
Despite divine reward, the people were uneasy about Pinchas’ actions, suggesting social discomfort even when zeal appears justified. The Yerushalmi records a tradition that some challenged Pinchas’ lineage, casting aspersions on his priestly legitimacy because of this act. This shows rabbinic discomfort with vigilante religiosity, even if it achieves a good outcome.
Pinchas’ act of zealotry is rewarded with a brit shalom—a covenant of peace. This paradox (violence rewarded with peace) invites reflection on when passion is holy, and when it becomes dangerous. The rabbis are famously ambivalent about zealotry. His act stopped a plague, but such actions are not to become normative.
Righteous indignation must be tempered by humility and divine purpose. Peace may come from passionate action—but only when guided by deep alignment with God's will.
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