Why Pinchas Is Traced to Aaron and Not to Jethro of Midian

Midrash Aggadah, Numbers 25:11

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"Pinchas son of Elazar," and so forth. Why did Scripture see fit to give Pinchas a genealogy? Because they were disparaging him and saying, "Look at this son of Puti! The son of the daughters of Jethro, who was a priest of Midian, and whose maternal grandfather used to fatten calves for idolatry — and today he has become the prince of a tribe!" And from where do we know that his mother was of the daughters of Jethro? As it is said, "And Elazar son of Aaron took for himself a wife from the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Pinchas" (Exodus 6:25). Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, traces his lineage by the name of Aaron, and not by the name of Jethro.

Themes

PriesthoodWomenTribesHeavenIdolatry

Biblical References

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