Devotional Reading: Psalm 44:1-8, 13-19, 26
Cults teach doctrines that, if believed, will cause persons to remain unsaved. The cult may claim to be part of Christianity and, yet, essential beliefs are left out. For example, the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons claim to be of the Christian faith, but they deny the deity of Christ and salvation by faith alone.1 https://www.gotquestions.org/cult-definition.html True Christians must have an unwavering commitment to serve the LORD God and His Son in all of the doctrinal meaning of the Bible.
I was familiar with groups such as the KKK, white supremacists, and the Nazis whose desire it is to have an Aryan pure race. But I was sadly surprised as to what I found when I began to research for the lesson. The idea of the Phineas Priesthood originates in a 1990 book by a white supremacist by the name of Richard Keith Hoskins entitled Vigilantes of Christendom: The Story of the Phineas Priesthood.2 https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/phineas-priesthood Hoskins based his idea on the first Phinehas we will be studying in today’s lesson. He describes Phineas Priests as individuals who, through the ages, have felt called upon by God to murder “race mixers” and their fellow travelers. He believed that Jews are biological descendants of Eve and Satan. Further, he states that people of color are not human beings, do not have souls, and that only whites are the real descendants of the biblical Hebrews. White supremacists understand the story of our first Phinehas to mean that God has decreed the death penalty for race-mixers. They do not understand that God judged the Israelites as a result of their worship of idol gods. Once again, to whom and what are they committed?
To be able to contrast God’s responses to the priestly ministries of the two Phinehas in today’s lesson, we should look at their family tree. Each descended from Aaron, the priest and brother of Moses. Aaron had four sons whose names were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The lives of the elder two, Nadab and Abihu, was prematurely cut off for offering strange fire before the LORD (See Lev 10 and Num 3:4). They had no offspring to survive them. The line of priesthood of Aaron was continued through his other two sons. Eleazar was appointed chief of the tribe of Levi (Ex 6:23, 25) and ultimately succeeded Aaron (Ex 28:1). The youngest son, Ithamar, was made the treasurer of the offerings for the Tabernacle (Ex 28:21). In the time of Eli, a descendant of Ithamar, the high priesthood had come to be in this family, but how it transferred, and whether before Eli’s day or first in Eli’s person, is not told. The first Phinehas we shall study descended from Aaron’s third son, Eleazar. Our second Phinehas was a descendant of the youngest son, Ithamar.
Although today’s lesson begins at Numbers 25:10 in discussing the first Phinehas, a little background is necessary. The Israelites were successful in battle. For ex., Num 21:3a indicates, “And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities.” (NKJV) The Moabites had witnessed what the Israelites had done to their neighbor, the Amorites. King Balak of Moab summoned Balaam to curse the Israelites to stop any further progress of victory. Balaam was a very strange character of whom you must wonder if he was sincerely seeking to serve God or whether he was fake as a $4.00 dollar bill. The Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land. As they were in their camp, Balaam wanted to curse the Israelites for the riches Balak promised to pay, but God forbid him. Balaam blessed the Israelites with prophecies instead because he was not allowed to curse them.
Moses had to be away or busy making preparations for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. I say this because it is hard for me to believe the sinning of the Israelites was done so grievously against God by such a great multitude of people with Moses’ knowledge. This is where we find the doctrine of Balaam. He knew God would not allow him to curse the Israelites. So he told the Moabites to infiltrate the Israelites from inside their camp. Be friendly and invite them over to worship with you. Rome did not fall from the outside but from the inside. Jesus Himself was turned over by an insider disciple and His own people. The neighborly worship of Baal-peor was not unto the Almighty God of Israel and included fornication. The offending Israelites had forgotten they were not to put any other god before their jealous God. (Num 25:1-3) It was for this reason Jesus told the church at Pergamos in Rev 2: 14, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (NKJV)
The LORD, in His righteous anger, instructed Moses to have all the disobedient Israelites killed and hung in the sun as slaughtered examples of God’s displeasure and the severe justice for such sin of disobedience. While Moses and the children of Israel were weeping at the door of the tabernacle during this time of punishment, one man brazenly decided he would publicly take his Midianite woman to his tent at this inopportune time in front of God, Moses and the entire weeping congregation. The Midianites practiced the same idolatry as the Moabites. Although many had seen how the Israelite men were heavily involved in sexually charged pagan worship, no one had previously acted. Phinehas immediately took action with a javelin, went into the tent of the offender, and thrust it through the bodies of Zimri and Cozbi. The death toll ceased at a count of 24,000 after the actions of Phinehas. (Num 25:4-9)
Phinehas was probably one of the leaders who had been designated by Moses to carry out the instruction of the LORD. He refused to stand by and allow another Israelite to be indignant to God’s righteousness, His holiness. Phinehas acted swiftly on behalf of the LORD. Num 25:10-11 indicate, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.” (NKJV) Had Phinehas not acted the death toll would have been higher than 24,000. Yes, Phinehas was zealous to the point he could only think of the holiness of God’s holy Name. The sins committed were both religious and political treason. The sins were a religious treason because they were against God. They were a political treason because they were against the nation of Israel. How dare Zimri insult the holy God, especially during a time the nation was in judgment! Phinehas publicly displayed his unwavering commitment and love for God. It was not that Zimri was with a foreign woman. It was that Zimri wasn’t committed to God and wanted to have sexual relations with someone who did not believe in the Israelite God.
What kind of zealousy would a person have to have to garner the respect of the LORD? The LORD told Moses that Phinehas was zealous with His zeal. In Prov 23:17 it is recorded, Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day. (NKJV) The Israelites were not naïve or ignorant to the goodness of the LORD. They were simply disobedient to His commandments and direct warnings. Obviously Ex 20:5 meant nothing when God commanded “you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.(idols) For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (NKJV) This is our Creator. Why would we feel we could disrespect Him and get away with it? He is jealous! Bottom line – Fear Him and reverence His Holiness.
Phinehas’ act of zeal and respect caused the LORD’s anger to cease. Now that His anger was ceased against the Israelites, God turned to Phinehas to reward him and his descendants for his faithfulness. He establishes a covenant and promises a permanent priesthood in Num 25:12-13 which states, “Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’”(NKJV) The priesthood was previously designed by covenant through the heritage of Aaron and his descendants. Now it is confirmed with a covenant of peace with Phineas, grandson of Aaron, and his descendants.
It is not just any covenant of peace which stops confrontations. This covenant of peace includes prosperity, health, well-being, and all things good. Although God gave the priesthood to Aaron’s descendants, God’s covenant of peace only applied to Phinehas’ descendants. Because of his zeal in executing justice for the Holiness of God, Phinehas had made an atonement for the Israelites. He and his descendants would be rewarded an everlasting earthly priesthood that would have its perfection and perpetuity until the unchangeable spiritual priesthood of Christ, who is consecrated forevermore.
In turning to look at the second Phinehas of our lesson, a son of Eli, in 1 Sam 2, you will recall the high priests are now descendants of Aaron’s youngest son, Ithamar. It is unknown how the priesthood transferred from his son Eleazor to Ithamar. The lesson is one of disobedience and corruption by the high priests and God’s response. In looking at some background material we see the tabernacle is located in Shiloh. It had become a very dangerous place because of the evil allowed within the tabernacle. (1 Sam 2:11-29) Sometimes you can run into a devil at the church. Eli, the priest, was a very good man himself. No doubt he had educated his sons Phinehas and Hophni well, giving them good instructions, and was a good example for them in life, praying for them often. Yet they were not saved. They had hearts of the devil. All of their actions was as to their will and ways and not the Will of the LORD. Their actions was evidence that they did not know the LORD.
Specifically, Eli’s sons, Phinehas and Hophni, would take the LORD’s sacrifice and run a religious racquet in their best interest. They were supposed to give the best of the sacrifice to the LORD. However, they served not the God of Israel but their own bellies. To make matters worse, Eli was very old and was no longer able to service the tabernacle or observe it as frequently as he would have liked. For this reason Phinehas and Hopni were ordained as high priests to take over the duties. However, Eli heard what his sons were doing in hopes there would be chastisement. It was an open scandal that his sons were lying with the women at the gate. Eli rebuked his sons, but he did it as a father giving them honor. He did not rebuke them as a priest with the zeal of God and giving Him all the honor and glory. Eli was too mild and gentle in his rebuke, effectively making his sons little gods. God was not pleased. It is stated at Ex 34:14, (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), (NKJV).
As a result, God declared great punishment beginning at 1 Sam 2:30, “Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the LORD says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’” (NKJV) An unnamed man of God came to Eli to pronounce judgment. It does not matter that it does not appear in the Scriptures how the priesthood transferred between Aaron’s son Eleazar to his son Ithamar. God revoked the grant of the priesthood that had been given to Eli’s father(s), Ithamar, because of the wicked actions of his sons, Phinehas and Hophni, and Eli’s lack to arise to the zeal of God’s honor in this occasion. God deserves all the honor as we faithfully perform our duties. He will give honor to those who honor Him.
The LORD’s declaration of punishment continued after He revoked the commission of the priesthood from Ithamar and his descendants. In 1 Sam 2:31-33 it is written, Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. (NKJV) God has stripped them of their power. The sons abused their power against Israel and Eli did not use his power to speak for God. For this their arm and the arm of Ithamar would be cut off. What does that mean? From generation to generation God has pronounced a judgment of death at an early age, at the prime of their life over the members of this arm. Even though there may be some increase in the family line, they would never live past the flower of their age.
The unnamed prophet declared there would be an enemy in My dwelling place. He prophesied the sign to let Eli know God’s Judgment was beginning at verse 34, Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. (NKJV) It is obvious that God had withdrawn His shield of protection over the Israelites when they went to battle with their enemy, the Philistines. They captured the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Sam 4:1-11; Jer 7:12-14), captured the Ark, destroyed Shiloh, and killed both Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 4:11) along with thirty thousand men. Upon hearing the news, Eli died that same day. (1 Sam 4:18)
The tabernacle was relocated to Nob (1 Sam 21:1-6). Here we find a fulfillment happening regarding God cutting off Eli’s descendants from serving at My altar. Abiathar, a priest and descendant of Eli, escaped from King Saul and joined David. (1 Sam 21:1-10; 22:9-23) Ultimately, however, King Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood because of his wrongdoing during a rebellion. (1 Kings 1:7-27; 2:24-27)
In the midst of all these Judgments, God sent Mercy to Israel. As stated in verse 35, Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. (NKJV) Upon the removal of the grant of the priesthood to the descendants of Eli, heir of Ithamar, God fulfilled His original promise to Phinehas, son of Eleazar. He and his descendants were rewarded an everlasting earthly priesthood. At that time Zadok became the sole high priest. The priesthood would eventually have its perfection and perpetuity in the unchangeable spiritual priesthood of Christ, who is consecrated forevermore. God seeks faithful ministers to do according to His Word. It is only then that He can have a sure foundation. If they are not faithful, how can they be before God’s people to do His Will? God knows when the steps of His priests are sure in His house, He does not have to worry how they walk, speak, act, and minister before His anointed. Today we, as Christians, are priests, as we follow in the footsteps of our High Priest Jesus Christ.
As a final statement the unnamed prophet declared the final Judgment to Eli in verse 36, And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, “Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread.”(NKJV) Whoever is left in the house of Eli will beg for some type employment, even a servant’s position, in order to get some bread and a little silver. This is a big change from the sin of Hophi and Phinehas who were taking the sacrificial meat for themselves. They will no longer be living “high on the hog” but they will be impoverished and literally “begging for bread”.
God is the same today, yesterday, and forevermore. He is Holy. He is Jealous. He demands respect. In today’s lesson we saw how He rewarded a priest who respected Him with exceeding zeal and fervor. Alternatively, He issued Judgments to priests who disrespected His Holiness and took for granted their priesthood. Do you seek a reward or a judgment from the LORD? Do you have an unwavering commitment to the LORD?
1 https://www.gotquestions.org/cult-definition.html
2 https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/phineas-priesthood
Written by Deborah C. Davis
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