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PHINEHAS.—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 (LXX [Note: Septuagint.] ) he himself was buried. In P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] and the Chronicler he rises into great prominence. He succeeded Eleazar as chief priest (Exo_6:25, 1Ch_6:4; 1Ch_6:50, 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 (Num_25:1-18). This is referred to in Psa_106:30 f., Sir_45:23-25, 1Ma_2:25; 1Ma_2:54. As priest he accompanied the expedition to punish the Midianites (Num_10:8 f.). He was the spokesman of the western tribes concerning the altar which the eastern tribes had erected (Jos_22:13; Jos_22:30-32, See Ed.). The war between Benjamin and the other tribes occurred in his high priesthood (Jdg_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.