1. Son of Elezar, and grandson of Aaron the high priest. His zealous an decided character was shown in the prompt execution of he profligate prince of Judah, and his companion a woman of Midian, in the plains of Moab, Nu 25:1-17. For this bold and timely service, the high priesthood was secured to his family, also remaining faithful; and except during an interval from Eli to Zadok, his posterity were at the head of the priesthood till the destruction of the temple. Phinehas led the host of Israel in the subsequent battle with the Midianites, Nu 31:6; Ps 106:30-31. He was at the head of the deputation sent to remonstrate with the tribes beyond the Jordan respecting the altar they had erected, Jos 22:5-34. During the life of his father, he was superintendent of the Levites, Nu 3:32; and afterwards became the high priest, the will of God, as to the punishment of the men of Gibeash, Jg 20:28.

2. A son of Eli the high priest. See HOPHNI.

mouth of brass, or from old Egypt, the negro. (1.) Son of Eleazar, the high priest (Ex 6:25). While yet a youth he distinguished himself at Shittim by his zeal against the immorality into which the Moabites had tempted the people (Nu 25:1-9), and thus "stayed the plague" that had broken out among the people, and by which twenty-four thousand of them perished. For his faithfulness on that occasion he received the divine approbation (10-13). He afterwards commanded the army that went out against the Midianites (Nu 31:6-8). When representatives of the people were sent to expostulate with the two and a half tribes who, just after crossing Jordan, built an altar and departed without giving any explanation, Phinehas was their leader, and addressed them in the words recorded in Jos 22:16-20. Their explanation follows. This great altar was intended to be all ages only a witness that they still formed a part of Israel. Phinehas was afterwards the chief adviser in the war with the Benjamites. He is commemorated in Ps 106:30-31. (See Ed.)

(2.) One of the sons of Eli, the high priest (1Sa 1:3; 2:12). He and his brother Hophni were guilty of great crimes, for which destruction came on the house of Eli (31). He died in battle with the Philistines (1Sa 4:4,11); and his wife, on hearing of his death, gave birth to a son, whom she called "Ichabod," and then she died (19-22).

An Egyptian name in the time of Rameses II.

1. Eleazar's son; Aaron's grandson (Ex 6:25). His mother was of Putiel's daughters. By his zeal in avenging the Lord's cause on the Simeonitc prince Zimri, and Cosbi his Midianite paramour, Phinehas turned away Jehovah's wrath, making an atonement for Israel, and was given Jehovah's covenant of peace, an everlasting priesthood (Numbers 25; Ps 106:30-31). Phinehas, with the holy instruments and trumpets to blow, accompanied the expedition which avenged Jehovah and Israel on Midian (Nu 31:6, etc.). Phinehas, as ambassador with ten princes, was delegated by Israel to remonstrate with the two and a half tribes as to the altar the latter built at Jordan; these satisfied the delegates and Israel as to their intentions. Thus was Phinehas a mediator of Israel's brotherly unity, as before he had vindicated Israel's purity (Jos 22:13-34).

Lastly Phinehas stood before the ark inquiring of Jehovah for Israel, "shall I go yet again ... against Benjamin my brother?" (Jg 20:23,28.) The same zeal for the purity yet brotherhood of Israel characterized him now in old age as in his youth. His zeal, i.e. the faith that prompted it, "was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore" (compare Ge 15:6; Ro 4:3). Phinehas had an allotment in Mount Ephraim; here on a hill bearing his name his father Eleazar was buried (Jos 24:33). The closing verses, concerning Joshua's death, etc., are ascribed to Phinehas (Baba barbra, in Fabricius, 893.) Eli of Ithamar's line interrupted the succession of the line of Phinehas; Zadok resumed it under Solomon. The tomb of Phinehas is shown at Awertah, four miles S.E. of Nablus, in the center of the village, within an area overshadowed by an old vine.

2. Second son of Eli, killed with Hophni, in battle with the Philistines (1Sa 1:3); according to the prophecy: 1Sa 2:34; 4:4,11,17,19; 14:3. (See ELI; HOPHNI.)

3. A Levite (Ezr 8:33).

1. The son of Eleazar, who was the third son of Aaron. Both his name and that of his mother Putiel are perhaps of Egyptian origin. The only certain occurrence of the name in a pre-exilic writing is in Jos 24:33; a hill (Gibeath Pinhas) in Ephraim was named after him, where his father and (Septuagint) he himself was buried. In Priestly Narrative and the Chronicler he rises into great prominence. He succeeded Eleazar as chief priest (Ex 6:25; 1Ch 6:4,50; Ezr 7:5,1Es 8:2, 2Es 1:2), and was the superintendent of the Korahite Levites (1Ch 9:20). The succession of the priesthood in his line was assured to him when he showed his zeal at Shittim in Moab, when Israel 'joined themselves unto Baal-peor.' An Israelite brought into the camp a woman from the Midianites who had beguiled the people into foreign worship. Phinehas slew the man and the woman (Nu 25). This is referred to in Ps 106:30 f., Sir 45:23-25, 1Ma 2:25; 1Ma 2:54. As priest he accompanied the expedition to punish the Midianites (Nu 10:8 f.). He was the spokesman of the western tribes concerning the altar which the eastern tribes had erected (Jos 22:13,30-32, See Ed.). The war between Benjamin and the other tribes occurred in his high priesthood (Jg 20:28). After the Exile a clan of priests, 'the sons of Phinehas,' claimed descent from him (Ezr 8:2 [1Es 5:5; 1Es 8:29, 2Es 1:2 k Phinees]). 2. The younger son of Eli (1Sa 1:3 [2Es 1:2 b Phinees]). See Hophni and Phinehas. 3. Ezr 8:33 father of a priest named Eleazar; = 1Es 8:62 Peterhinees.

A. H. M'Neile.

Phin'ehas

1. Son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron. He showed his zeal for God in slaying Zimri and Cozbi, for which he was commended by God, who promised His 'covenant of peace' to him and his seed, even 'the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.' He succeeded Eleazar as high priest. Ex 6:25; Nu 25:7-13; 31:6; Jos 22:13-32; Jg 20:28; 1Ch 6:4,50; 9:20; Ezr 7:5; 8:2; Ps 106:30.

2. Son of Eli: he degraded the priesthood by his wickedness, and was slain with his brother Hophni by the Philistines when the ark was taken. He was father of Ahitub and Ichabod; his wife, overcome with sorrow, dying when the latter was born. 1Sa 1:3; 2:34; 4:4-19; 14:3.

3. Father of Eleazar who returned from exile. Ezr 8:33.

Phin'ehas

(mouth of brass).

1. Son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron.

Ex 6:25

He is memorable for having while quite a youth, by his zeal and energy at the critical moment of the licentious idolatry of Shittim, appeased the divine wrath, and put a stop to the plague which was destroying the nation.

Nu 25:7

(B.C. 1452.) For this he was rewarded by the special approbation of Jehovah and by a promise that the priesthood should remain in his family forever.

Nu 25:10-13

He was appointed to accompany as priest the expedition by which the Midianites were destroyed. ch.

Nu 31:6

Many years later he also headed the party which was despatched from Shiloh to remonstrate against the altar which the transjordanic tribes were reported to have built near Jordan.

Jos 22:13-32

In the partition of the country he received an allotment of his own --a hill on Mount Ephraim which bore his name. After Eleazar's death he became high priest --the third of the series. In this capacity he is introduced as giving the oracle to the nation during the whole struggle with the Benjamites on the matter of Gibeah.

Jg 20:28

The verse which closes the book of Joshua is ascribed to Phinehas, as the description of the death of Moses at the end of Deuteronomy is to Joshua. The tomb of Phinehas, a place of great resort to both Jews and Samaritans, is shown at Awertah, four miles southeast of Nablus.

2. Second son of Eli.

1Sa 1:3; 2:34; 4:4,11,17,19; 14:3

Phinehas was killed with his brother by the Philistines when the ark was captured. (B.C. 1125.) [ELI]

See Eli

3. A Levite of Ezra's time,

Ezr 8:33

unless the meaning be that Eleazar was of the family of the great Phinehas.

PHINEHAS, son of Eleazar, and grandson of Aaron, third high priest of the Jews, A.M. 2571 to about A.M. 2590, B.C. 1414. He is particularly commended in Scripture for zeal in vindicating the glory of God, when the Midianites had sent their daughters into the camp of Israel, to tempt the Hebrews to fornication and idolatry, Nu 25:7. On this account the Lord promised the priesthood to Phinehas by perpetual covenant; evidently including this tacit condition, that his children should continue faithful and obedient: for we know the priesthood passed out of the family of Eleazar and Phinehas to that of Ithamar, and that it returned not to the posterity of Eleazar until after about a hundred and fifty years.