Phineas: violence and peace in one person?

person, driven by war and by peace. G-d, driven by jealousy and appeased by violence. Extremes: Phineas, who commits murder and is rewarded with a covenant of peace. A different mix of extremes: An Israelite and a Midianite woman consort publicly; then they are run through by the spear of Phineas, the zealot. What is zealotry? Why does the Torah praise it in this instance? Was it necessary? Does Phineas open the door of violence for every zealot? Is Phineas the ultimate negative role model, the father figure of every violent leader? If not, what is different about Phineas’ zealotry? And does it matter? However sound his thinking, do not all zealots justify their extremes, even murder? Strange: Phineas becomes a symbol of peace, the […]