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Exodus 6:25 - Pinchas: zealous priestly lineage

Exodus 6:25 - שמות 6:25

Hebrew Text

וְאֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן לָקַח־לוֹ מִבְּנוֹת פּוּטִיאֵל לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶת־פִּינְחָס אֵלֶּה רָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹת הַלְוִיִּם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם׃

English Translation

And El῾azar Aharon’s son took him one of the daughters of Puti᾽el to wife; and she bore him Pineĥas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

Transliteration

Ve'Elazar ben-Aharon lakhah-lo mibnot Puti'el lo le'ishah vateiled lo et-Pinchas, eleh rashei avot haLevi'im lemishpechotam.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְאֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֜ן לָקַֽח־ל֨וֹ מִבְּנ֤וֹת פּֽוּטִיאֵל֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד ל֖וֹ אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס אֵ֗לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃
וְאֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֜ן לָקַֽח־ל֨וֹ מִבְּנ֤וֹת פּֽוּטִיאֵל֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד ל֖וֹ אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס אֵ֗לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Lineage of Pinchas

The verse (Exodus 6:25) describes Elazar, the son of Aharon, marrying a daughter of Putiel and fathering Pinchas. This seemingly straightforward genealogical note carries deeper significance in Orthodox Jewish tradition.

Who Was Putiel?

Rashi explains that "Puti'el" refers to Yisro (Jethro), who was called Putiel because he had fattened (pitem) calves for idol worship before repenting and converting to Judaism. Alternatively, Rashi cites an opinion that Putiel refers to Yosef, who overcame (pitpeit) his yetzer hara (evil inclination) when confronted by Potiphar's wife.

  • The dual interpretation highlights Pinchas's lineage from both righteous converts (Yisro) and those who mastered their impulses (Yosef).
  • This explains Pinchas's later zealotry (Numbers 25) - he inherited spiritual strength from both sides.

The Significance of Pinchas's Birth

The Ramban notes that this verse appears in the context of listing the families of Levi, emphasizing Pinchas's role as a leader. Though Pinchas was Aharon's grandson, he is mentioned here because:

  • He would later become Kohen Gadol (High Priest) after Elazar.
  • His courageous act (stopping the plague in Numbers 25) merited him the priesthood.
  • The verse hints at the continuity of leadership from Aharon through Elazar to Pinchas.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash (Sifrei) connects this verse to Pinchas's future role:

  • His name ("Pinchas") contains the word "nechoshet" (brass), alluding to his zealous nature.
  • Being born from a union of priestly and convert lineage made him uniquely suited to defend Israel's sanctity.
  • The mention of "heads of the fathers" foreshadows his leadership position.

Halachic Implications

The Talmud (Bava Basra 109b) derives from this verse that:

  • Priestly lineage follows the father, as Pinchas became a kohen through Elazar.
  • The importance of proper genealogical records for priestly families.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was Elazar in the Torah?
A: Elazar was the son of Aharon the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and one of the leaders of the Levites. He later became the Kohen Gadol after his father's passing. The Torah mentions his lineage to show the importance of the priestly family in Jewish tradition.
Q: Why is Pinchas (Pinechas) mentioned in this verse?
A: Pinchas is mentioned because he became a significant figure later in the Torah (Numbers 25), where he zealously defended G-d's honor and was rewarded with the eternal priesthood. This verse establishes his lineage, showing that he came from a righteous family (Rashi on Exodus 6:25).
Q: What does 'the heads of the fathers of the Levites' mean?
A: This phrase refers to the leaders of the Levite families, who had special roles in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). The Levites were responsible for singing, guarding, and assisting the Kohanim (priests) in service to G-d (Rambam, Hilchot Klei HaMikdash 3:2-3).
Q: Why is the wife of Elazar described as 'from the daughters of Putiel'?
A: The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 7:5) explains that 'Puti'el' refers to Yitro (Jethro), who was called 'Puti' because he renounced idolatry ('pitpeim'—he spat it out). This highlights that Pinchas came from both the priestly line of Aharon and the righteous convert Yitro.
Q: What lesson can we learn from this verse about Jewish lineage?
A: This verse teaches the importance of tracing Jewish ancestry, especially for Kohanim and Levi'im, who had special roles in serving G-d. It also shows that greatness comes from both righteous lineage (like Aharon) and personal merit (like Yitro's descendants). Jewish tradition values family heritage while emphasizing individual deeds (Talmud, Kiddushin 70a).