Zimri’s Taunting

The incident at Ba’al Peor, was one of great tragedy. It led to a plague that took the lives of 24,000 men of the Tribe of Shimon.

These men were guilty of both idol worship and sinning with the forbidden Midianite women. The incident ended when Pinchas stepped forward and killed Zimri, the head of the Tribe of Shimon, and Kozbi, a Mudianite princess. They showed no shame and committed the forbidden act, “before the eyes of Moshe, and the eyes of the entire congregation.

This strange wording of the Torah regarding the eyes of Moshe and the eyes of the congregation is explained by the Talmud in Sanhedrin. Zimri was taunting Moshe and asked if Kozbi was permitted or forbidden. If you say she is forbidden, what justification do you have for marrying Tziporah, also from Midyan. This attack left Moshe confused, and he momentarily forgot the Halacha.

Moshe’s great-nephew, Pinchas remembered the Halacha that קנאים פוגעים בו, that a zealous person must strike down such a couple who are brazenly violating the Torah. He killed them both strictly for the sake of Heaven, to stop the desecration of Hashem’s Name.

The people were not sure if Pinchas acted correctly, until Hashem told Moshe that Pinchas was to be blessed for his heroic act that stopped the plague.

When one acts with zealotry, he must be certain that he is acting strictly for the sake of Heaven. This is not an easy thing to do. The risks are great if he does not have the right motivation. We must remind ourselves to be clear that everything we do, is for the sake of Heaven.