Pinchas and Noach: A Contrast
A thought on Parashas Pinchas
It can be challenging to find a connection between the end of one parashah and the beginning of the next one. I therefore found it interesting that Pinchas in fact is introduced at the end of the previous parashah - Balak. Similarly, we find that Noach is introduced at the end of parashas Bereishis.
We do not find that Yisro is introduced at the end of Beshalach or that Korach is introduced at the end of Shelach. Why are Pinchas and Noach both introduced at the end of their previous parashah and what is the connection between them?
Let’s start from the beginning.
After Adam was exiled from the Garden, he was told by Hashem that the land was cursed and one must sweat and suffer to bring food to the table. All the plants would have thorns on them and be difficult to pick and prepare. This was to be the case until someone is born with a bris milah1. Noach was born circumcised. When his father Lemech saw this, he realized that this child will bring rest and named him Noach. After Noach’s birth, the plants no longer had thorns, and as he grew older, Noach invented the plow, sickle and other farm tools to “comfort” the people.
The bris milah that Noach was born with brought a kappara to the world. However instead of serving Hashem, the world ultimately distanced themselves from Him, until the world was destroyed in the Mabbul, except for Noach who had a bris.
In our Parashah, we learn that Pinchas too had a bris, although a different kind.
While the Bnei Yisrael were in Shittim, many of the men began to be lured to sleep with the Moabite women. These women would then have them worship to their god - Baal-peor. Hashem became upset with this and instructed Moshe to have these people punished. However one man came in front of Moshe with a Midianite woman as if to taunt Moshe who married the daughter of Yisro, a midianite.
When Pinchas saw this, he got up, taking a spear in his hand, he followed them into their tent and stabbed the couple to death. This heroic act caused Hashem to immediately stop the plague that was decreed2.
Because of this heroic action of defending the honor of Hashem and thereby saving his generation from extinction, Hashem gave him a bris shalom. Rashi tells us that at this point Pinchas and his descendants joined his family as Kohanim.
Noach was born perfect with the bris, was called Tzaddik, and perfect in his generation. However we find that Noach does not influence any other members of his generation to do teshuvah, in fact the Navi3 calls the Mabul, "the Waters of Noach." Noach's flaw was that he was not zealous, we have no record of him trying to pressure anyone or try and implore them to do teshuvah. Eventually he became an Ish Adama - a man of the ground, and we do not hear about him again. He was unable to save his generation.
Pinchas was from Bnei Putiel, the family of Yisro and was not a Kohen. However, when the opportunity to act arose, he did not hesitate. He did an unpopular action, and saved the Jewish people. In our parsha he is called Pinchas Hakohen to show his transformation as a result of his actions.
The Seforim4 teach us that Pinchas was able to do a Tikkun for Noach and that is why his name includes Noach’s name.
The Midrash5 and Zohar6 teach us that Pinchas is Eliyahu HaNavi, he is blessed with long life and comes to every bris mila. When a person commits to doing the right thing for Hashem, and sacrifices time and efforts for the Jewish people, Hashem pays back midah k’nedged midah by continuing to give opportunities and strength to serve His people.
Tanchuma Bereishis 11
Seforno 25,8
Yeshayahu 54
I cannot find a source for this, originally saw this in https://www.sefaria.org.il/sheets/3567.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Yalkut Shimoni Parashas Balak (771)
Chelek 2 - 190a