Parashat Pinchas
18th July 2025
Week of 13-19 July 2025
Torah portion: Numbers 25:10-30:1 Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22 Jerimiah 1:1-2:3
Theme: Spirit and Inheritance: Faithfulness, Calling, and the Risk of Loss
In Numbers 25:11, Phinehas’ zealous act turns away God’s wrath—not as mere human violence, but as a manifestation of a deeper spiritual inheritance. As the grandson of Aaron, Phinehas acts “in My passion,” showing that he is moved by the Spirit of God, not by personal vengeance. Rabbinic tradition sees him as restoring the broken covenant through priestly fidelity. Christian writers like Origen allegorize this as the believer’s call to spiritual vigilance: we are called to “kill” sin through the Spirit, preserving communion with God. Here, zeal is not opposed to mercy but fulfills it when animated by the divine Spirit rather than self-will.
This idea continues in Numbers 26:55–56, where the land is apportioned “by lot… according to ancestral tribes.” The lot, in biblical thought, symbolizes God’s sovereign will, not randomness. Only those whose ancestors remained faithful receive a share; the rebellious lose their inheritance. This echoes the Gospel warning in Matthew 25: the servant who hides his talent loses it, and it is given to another. In both traditions, inheritance—whether land or spiritual gift—is not automatic. It must be received and lived in faith. Paul similarly reminds believers that standing by faith is essential, lest the gift be removed (Rom 11:20–21).
Numbers 27:9 then illustrates how inheritance is transferred when there are no heirs: property passes to the next kin. Allegorically, it reminds us that divine gifts—leadership, land, Spirit—can pass from one person or people to another if not cherished. The daughters of Zelophehad earlier embody the faithful claim to God’s promise, standing in the tradition of Abraham. For Christians, this reflects how the Spirit is given not by lineage but by faith (Gal 3:28–29). The common thread is clear: God’s Spirit initiates the call, but the gift must be lived faithfully; or else it is lost or given to those ready to bear it.
For Reflection and Discussion: 1. In what ways are we being called today to receive and act upon the spiritual inheritance we have been given?
2. Are there gifts or callings in our lives that, if left unused, risk being lost or given to others more ready to act in faith?
Bibliography: McKenzie, J.L. Dictionary of the Bible (New York: 1965)
This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Jefferson Philip Jacob Reyes, France, Bat Kol Alumnus: 2019
[Copyright © 2025]
Comments are closed