Are You Zealous or Jealous?

Parashat Pinchas, Numbers 25:10–29:40

Suzy Linett, Devar Shalom, Ontario, CA

When I was young, I had a conversation with my mother that went something like this:

Me: Do we believe in Jesus?

Mother: No

Me: Do we believe in Santa Claus?

Mother: No

Me: Do we believe in the Easter Bunny?

Mother: No

Me (frustrated): Well, do we at least believe in snowmen?

Raised in a Jewish home, I knew about the holidays of my people. Of course, as a child, Hanukkah was my favorite. Yet my gentile friends seemed to have so much more fun. I didn’t want to learn about their religion, but I certainly wanted the regalia of the outward observance, including Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Our parasha this week, Pinchas, reminds me of that exchange so long ago. The Israelites were poised to enter the Promised Land. Forty years of travel due to their rebellion were drawing to an end. The target was in sight. Yet, they were jealous of the bells and whistles of the pagan worship of Baal Peor. This god was worshiped through vulgarity and obscene acts of depravity. Adonai required obedience to a moral code. Surely the Midianites had it better!

The Israelites descended into the realm of immorality until, in last week’s parasha, Zimri, the leader of the tribe of Simeon, openly engaged in sexually deviant behavior (public sexual activity of that nature is deviant) in front of the Tent of Meeting – immediately before the place of meeting with Adonai. The woman, named Cozbi, was of the Midianites. Her name means “liar” or “sliding away.” She enticed Zimri to slide away from obedience to the Lord to openly degenerate behavior. The Lord’s anger resulted in a plague during which 24,000 Israelites died. As last week’s parasha concluded, Phinehas speared through both of them while they were engaged in their action. The plague ended immediately.

As this week’s portion begins, Phinehas, the gradson of Aaron and son of Eleazar the current high priest, is rewarded by Adonai.

Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying, “Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the kohen has turned away My anger from Bnei-Yisrael because he was very zealous for Me among them, so that I did not put an end to Bnei-Yisrael in My zeal. So now say: ‘See, I am making with him a covenant of shalom! It will be for him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood—because he was zealous for his God and atoned for Bnei-Yisrael.’” (Num 25:10–13)

Phinehas was zealous, not jealous. He knew the Lord, and knew that strict adherence to his rules was the only correct way to live. He was zealous for the Lord, not jealous of the lifestyle of the pagan nations.

A new census is taken following this incident. The Israelites 20 and older were counted from each of the tribes who would receive a land inheritance. The older generation, counted previously, had died during the wilderness journey. This census would determine how much land each tribe would receive. The distribution would be by lot as to the location, with the size based on the number of families headed by men. Following the completion of the census, five daughters of Zelophehad of the tribe of Manasseh went before Moses to ask what would become of them. Their father had died in the wilderness, but it was noted that he was not part of the rebellion of Korah from the parasha three weeks ago. These daughters had no husbands, nor did they have any brothers. Moses approached Adonai, who told him:

The daughters of Zelophehad are right in saying you should give them property by inheritance among their father’s relatives. You are to turn over the inheritance of their father to them. Furthermore, you are to speak to Bnei-Yisrael saying: If a man dies without a son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, you are to give his inheritance to his brothers.  If he has no brothers, you are to give it to his father’s brothers. If his father had no brothers, you are to give it to the nearest relative in his family that he might possess it. This is to be a legal statute for Bnei-Yisrael, just as Adonai commanded to Moses. (Num 27:7–11)

This was significant not only because it provided for these women, but also because it was a complete change, a 180-degree turn, from the Midianite use of women for debauchery. Women were to be respected and an inheritance was to be provided if there was no one to care for them. Groundwork for the kinsmen-redeemer statute was laid, which would become fundamental in the story of Ruth and the genealogy of the Messiah. Zealous, but not jealous, the women received all for which they had asked. They pled their case before Moses, knowing he would ask the Lord for direction. They did not try to grab, outwit, or con anyone to obtain the property, nor did they ask for any additional property out of jealousy for those with sons or brothers. Cozbi, by enticing Zimri, was used by the Midianites to bring women, and Israel, down. These sisters, by reaching out to the Lord through Moses, raised women up in status and elevated Israel to be one of the first to give inheritance rights to women without dependance upon men.

After all he had done, Moses was led to the top of a mountain to look at the Promised Land. Due to his disobedience, he would die without entering it. Yet, the Lord in His mercy allowed him to see it (27:12–14). Another man, Joshua, was appointed to lead the nation. Joshua had not rebelled; he had not succumbed to jealousy of the pagan tribes. He served the Lord and he served Moses with zealous obedience, giving a good report when sent to check out the land, and demonstrating faith that the Lord would give His people victory (27:15–23). After this, the Lord commanded Moses to provide a review of the moadim, His appointed times (28:1–29:40). The people had these times as specific appointments. They were to be on their calendars. They were to arrive on time, and show up for these dates. In today’s world, these dates would be on their phones, computers, social media and be of prime importance. The people were to be zealous for these appointments.

The Lord asks each of us to be zealous for Him. We are not to become ensnared by the customs and practices of other religions or of the world. We are to be zealous for His Word and instruction, not jealous of the enticing displays of sin in today’s society. We are to have the zeal of Phinehas and cast sin out of our lives. We are to be counted in the census of those who choose to follow Him and live for Him until we arrive and receive our inheritance in the New Jerusalem. We are to accept our inheritances, male and female, without comparison or dissatisfaction. We are to meet with Adonai at His appointments and in our hearts. Be zealous, not jealous.

Scripture references are from the TLV