or, as the Jews pronounce it PINEHAS, was the son of Eleazar, and grandson of Aaron. He was the third high priest of the Jews, and discharged this office from the year of the world 2571, till towards the year 2590. He is particularly commended in Scripture for the zeal he showed 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. For Zimri having publicly entered into the tent of a Midianitish woman named Cozbi, Phinehas arose from among the people (Numb. xxv. 7, &c.), took a javelin in his hand, entered after Zimri into that infamous place, and stabbed both man and woman at one blow, in those parts that were chiefly concerned in this criminal commerce. Upon which the plague or distemper ceased with which the Lord had already begun to punish the Israelites. This happened in the year of the world 2553.

Then the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the high-priest has turned away my wrath from the children of Israel, because he has been zealous in my cause, and has hindered me from destroying them: wherefore acquaint him, that I give him my covenant of peace, and the priesthood shall be given to his posterity by a perpetual covenant, because he has been zealous for his God, and has made atonement for the crime of the children of Israel. This promise that the Lord made to Phinehas, to give him the priesthood by a perpetual covenant, interpreters observe, evidently included this tacit condition, that his children should continue faithful and obedient; since we know that 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 till after about 150 years.

This is what we find concerning the translation of the high-priesthood from one family to the other. This dignity continued in the race of Phinehas, from Aaron down to the high-priest Eli, for about 335 years. See AARON.

The manner and causes of this change are unknown. It re-entered again into the family of Eleazar, under the reign of Saul, when this prince having put to death Abimelech, and the other priests of Nob, he gave the high-priesthood to Zadok, who was of the race of Phinehas. At the same time, David had Abiathar with him, of the race of Eli, who performed the functions of high-priest. So that after the death of Saul, David continued the priesthood to Zadok and Abiathar conjointly. But towards the end of David's reign, Abiathar having espoused the interest of Adonijah, to the prejudice of Solomon, he was in disgrace, and Zadok only was acknowledged as high-priest. The priesthood continued in his family till after the captivity of Babylon, and even to the destruction of the temple. But from the beginning of Zadok's priesthood alone, and the exclusion of Abiathar, to the ruin of the temple, is 1084 years.

We read of another memorable action of Phinehas, in which he still showed his zeal for the Lord. This Phinehas was when the Israelites that were beyond Jordan had raised upon the banks of this river a vast heap of earth (Josh. xxii. 32, 31.). Those on the other side fearing they were going to forsake the Lord, and set up another religion, deputed Phinehas and other chief men among them, to go and inform themselves of the reason of erecting this monument. But when they had found that it was in commemoration of their union and common original, Phinehas took occasion from thence to praise the Lord, saying, "We know that the Lord is with us, since you are not guilty of that prevarication we suspected you were."

We do not exactly know the time of the death of Phinehas. But as he lived after the death of Joshua, and before the first servitude under Chushan-rishathaim, during the time that there were neither kings nor judges in the land, and every one did what was right in his own eyes (Judges xvii. 6. xviii. 1. xxi. 24.); his death is put about the year of the world 2590. It was under his pontificate that the story of Micah happened, as also that of the tribe of Dan, when they made a conquest of Laish; and the enormity that was committed upon the wife of the Levite of the mountain of Ephraim (Judges xx. 28.). Phinehas's successor in the high-priesthood was Abiezer, or Abifiah.

The Rabbins allow a very long life to Phinehas. There are some who believe he lived to the time of the high-priest Eli, or even to the time of Samson. Others will have it, that he was the same as Eli, or rather as the prophet Elias, which would still prolong his life for several ages.