PHINEHAS (phin'e-has), (Heb. tee ne kh-aws' , mouth of brass).
1. A son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the high priest. An incident which illustrates the zealous and somewhat passionate character of Phinehas occurred before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. The Israelites were en camped in thc plains of Moab, and were lament ing the sin into which they had been seduced by the Midianites, when a prince of Judah named Zimri was beheld conducting a woman of Midian named Cozbi to his tent. The licentious ef frontery of this act kindled the wrath of Phine has, who hastened after them into the tent, and transfixed them both with his javelin (Num.
xxv :7, sq.). (B. C. 1619.) This bold act pointed out Phinehas to Nloses as a proper person to ac company as priest the expedition which was im mediately after sent forth, under the command of Joshua, against the Midianites, and by which the cause of the deluded Israelites was abundantly avenged (Num. xxxi:6, sq.). After the conquest of the Promised Land, when the warriors of the two and half tribes beyond the Jordan were per mitted to return to their homes, Phinehas was at the head of the deputation sent after them to inquire and remonstrate concerning thealtar which, on their way, they had set up on the bank of the Jordan ; and it was he doubtless who pro nounced the forcible address to the supposed of fenders. He was certainly the first to express his
satisfaction and joy at the explanation which was given, and which, with a lightened heart, Ile bore back to the tribes assembled at Shiloh (Josh. xxii :5, sq.).
It appears that while his father lived Phinehas filled the post of superintendent or chief of the Levites, probably after Eleazar became high priest (Num. iii :32 ; Chron. ix:2o). At the death of his father, he succeeded to the pontificate (Josh. xxiv :33) ; but the only case in which he appears officially in the Bible is in connection with the unhappy circumstances recorded at the end of the book of Judges, in which he comes forward as high priest to consult Jehovah. This mention of his name enables us to conclude that the chronological place of these occurrences would be rather towards the beginning than at the lat ter end of the book in which they are found. (See JuncEs ; PRIEST, HEBREW PRIESTHOOD.) 2. A Levite, fathcr of the Eleazar who aided Nleremoth in weighing the sacred vessels of the Temple (Ezra viii :2). (B. C. before 458.) 3. The son of Eli the high priest, and brother of Hophni (I Sam. i ; ii:34; iv :I 1, 19-22; xiv: 3). (B. C. 125.) (See Eu ; HOPHNI ; SAMUEL.)