In Numbers 25, the Israelites were staying in the plains of Moab. While they were there, the men of Israel began to engage in sexual immorality with the Moabite women and worshiped their gods. This behavior provoked the anger of God, and as a result, a plague broke out among the people.
God commanded Moses to take the leaders of Israel and hang them in broad daylight, so His fierce anger could be turned away from the Israelites. While this command was being carried out, an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman into his tent in front of Moses and the congregation. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, saw this act of blatant rebellion and took a spear, went into the tent, and pierced both the man and the woman, killing them on the spot.
Phinehas’ actions were pleasing to God, and the plague was stopped. God made a covenant of peace with Phinehas, promising him and his descendants a perpetual priesthood because he zealously defended God’s honor among the Israelites.
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