The Kind of Zealotry That is Meritorious
Pinchas ben Elazar HaKohen Displayed
The Kind of Zealotry That is Meritorious
Pinchas, the son of Elazar HaKohen, the son of Aharon HaKohen, merited a distinctive blessing by virtue of his zealous action. The Creator of the world announced [in a prophetic session with Moshe Rabbeinu], "Behold, I am giving him (Pinchas) My covenant of peace. And, he and his offspring after him will have the everlasting covenant of priesthood, kehuna, because he was zealous for his God, and he made an atonement for all the Children of Israel" (Bamidbar/Numbers 25:12-13).
Chazal, our Sages of blessed memory, tell us that at the time of this event, Aharon and his sons already had been annointed as kohanim. Their priestly status would devolve upon all sons subsequently born to them. Pinchas ― who had been born before his father Elazar was annointed to the priesthood ― was left out. Only when the Almighty blessed Pinchas after his zealous deed did he receive the gift of kehuna, priesthood.
The covenant of priesthood that Pinchas merited was not simply a reward for his noble zealotry. The bestowal of the kehuna on Pinchas was actually a message [for us], a message that identified a necessary attribute of his act. Only the ideal man, one graced with the covenant of peace, whose personality is suffused with peacefulness and the desire for reconciliation, and who trembles at HaShem's word, only such a man, in specific, extreme circumstances, can possibly lift a sword and do such a deed.
Some people regard zealous actions as negative deeds done spontaneously in rage and fury. Occasionally, (sometimes, rightly so) it seems that zealotry precludes humanitariaism and peace. With the blessing, "Behold I am giving him (Pinchas) My covenant of peace" the Torah shows us that those who hold this viewpoint err.
In specific situations, zealotry is appropriate when acted upon in the correct manner by the right person.We must not forget that zealotry is hazardous. It is difficult to achieve the right balance between pacification and mercy on the one hand, and jealousy [for the honor of] the Word of HaShem on the other hand. It seems that only a few merit the ability to blend these characteristics.
Pinchas worked on his personality to achieve this high level. There's a reason that Chazal tell us, "Pinchas is Eliyahu" [Elijah the Prophet] (Pirke d'Rabi Eliezer, 46).
Pinchas merited to fill the role as the one who will announce the Redemption. Targum Yonaton ben Uziel explains the verse, "Behold, I am giving him (Pinchas) My covenant of peace…" (Bamidbar/Numbers 25:12):
That is Pinchas, and Pinchas is Eliyahu, the appointed messenger who will herald the complete Redemption, which we all aspire to see, soon, in our days, amen.
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