Miriam and Phinehas

Miriam was the older sister of Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the Israelites during the Exodus. While the Israelites were in the wilderness, Miriam became jealous of her brother Moses.  The Bible record reads:  "Now Miriam and Aaron began to speak against Moses on account of the Cushite wife whom he had taken .  . .And they kept saying:  "Is it just by Moses along that Jehovah has spoken?  Is it not by us also that he has spoken?' "  Apparently, Miriam took the lead  in this move against Moses, for Jehovah disciplined Miriam, not Aaron, with a week-long case of leprosy for her disrespectful conduct. -Numbers 12:1-15. 

What prompted Miriam to act against Moses?  Was it concern for true worship and a desire  to protect  fellow Israelites from harm?  Evidently not.  It appears  that Miriam had allowed an improper  desire for more prestige  and authority to well up in her heart. As a prophetess in Israel, she enjoyed great respect from the people, particularly the women.  She led them in music and song after Israel's  miraculous salvation at the Red Sea. Now, though, Miriam might have become unduly  concerned about losing some of her prominence to a suspected rival, the wife of Moses. Moved by selfish jealousy, she stirred up contention against Moses, the one appointed by Jehovah. -Exodus 15:1, 20, 21. 

Phinehas, on the other hand, had a different motive for his actions. Shortly before entering the Promised Land, when Israel was encamped on the plains of Moab, Moabite and Midianite women lured  many Israelite males into immorality and idolatry.  To cleanse the camp and turn back Jehovah's burning anger, the judges of Israel were instructed to kill all the men who had thus deflected.  For immoral purposes, the Simeonite chieftain Zimri brazenly brought to Midianite  women Cozby into the camp "before the eyes of all the assembly of the sons of Israel." Phinehas acted decisively. Impelled by feelings of jealousy, or zeal, for Jehovah's worship and a desire to maintain the moral purity of the camp, he executed the fornicators in their tent.  He was commended for his "jealous anger," "tolerating no rivalry at all"  toward Jehovah. Phinehas' prompt action stopped the punishing scourge that had already claimed  the lives of 24,000,and Jehovah rewarded him with a covenant for the priesthood to remain in his line to time indefinite. -Numbers 25:4-13; The New English Bible.

What was the difference between these two expressions of jealousy?  Miriam acted against her brother out of selfish jealousy, while Phinehas executed justice based on godly jealousy.  There are times when we, like Phinehas, should feel compelled  to speak up or to take some action in defense of Jehovah's name, his worship, and his people. 

Next time: Misguided Jealousy

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002