Phinehas Rises Before Moses as Death Approaches

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayechi 3:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

And since Zimri did that deed, what is written? "Then he went after the man of Israel into the chamber" (Numbers 25:8). And where was Phinehas speaking before Moses? In order to fulfill what is said, "and there is no dominion on the day of death" (Ecclesiastes 8:8). And "death" is nothing but an expression of lowering: the deliverance was given to Phinehas, and he lowered Moses.

Themes

MosesDeathZealotryHeresySolomon

Biblical References

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