Why Pinchas Received a Unique Reward: The Torah's Secret to Personal Growth and Divine Blessing

There was once a favorite pastime among the kings of the ancient world. From time to time, a king would venture into the forest accompanied by a small group of trusted advisers and royal guards, hoping to hunt rare and majestic animals such as lions or bears.

They would spend hours making their way deep into the wilderness in search of these magnificent creatures. If they succeeded, the animal would be brought back to the palace, its hide preserved as a trophy that stood as a symbol of the king's courage and achievement.

Two Acts of Heroism

On one such expedition, a band of armed robbers suddenly ambushed the king. The chief bodyguard remained calm, drew his weapon, and fought them off. After killing several of the attackers, the remaining bandits fled.

Some time later, a similar incident occurred. Once again, the king found himself deep in the forest when another group of robbers attacked. This time, however, he had chosen to travel with only one of his advisers, without bodyguards or military escort.

Both men were terrified. Within moments, however, the adviser regained his composure, drew the pistol he carried, and engaged the attackers in fierce combat. Against all odds, he succeeded in driving them away.

Deeply moved by the experience and grateful for having his life saved, the king returned to the palace and announced that the adviser would receive a special reward.

The ministers were puzzled.

"Your Majesty," they asked, "please forgive us, but why the difference in treatment? Not long ago your chief bodyguard also saved your life, yet he received nothing. Now your adviser has done the same, and you are rewarding him generously. Why?"

The King's Explanation

The king replied: "I will explain the difference.

"My bodyguard was appointed for one purpose: to protect me. He trained for years to fight enemies and was highly experienced in battle. He simply did what he had been prepared to do.

"My adviser, however, is not a soldier. Fighting is not his profession, nor is he trained for combat. It would have been perfectly natural for him to panic, freeze in fear, or run for his life. Had he done so, I would likely have been killed or captured.

"But instead, he overcame his natural fear. He rose above himself, fought bravely, and succeeded. That is why he deserves an extraordinary reward."

This parable, told by the Ben Ish Chai, sheds light on one of the most intriguing verses at the beginning of Parashat Pinchas.

Why Does the Torah Repeat Pinchas' Lineage?

After Pinchas acted zealously to stop the public desecration committed by Zimri, God declared: "Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the Kohen, has turned away My wrath from the Children of Israel by being zealous for My sake among them."

Many commentators ask an obvious question: Why does the Torah once again emphasize that Pinchas was the son of Elazar and the grandson of Aaron? His lineage has already been mentioned several times in previous portions.

Reward Is Measured by the Difficulty

Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov explains in his work Agra D'Kallah that two people may perform exactly the same mitzvah, yet receive very different rewards. This is because God measures not only the deed itself, but also the effort required to perform it.

One individual may have to struggle intensely against his natural inclinations to fulfill a mitzvah. Another may perform that very same mitzvah effortlessly because it aligns naturally with his personality.

Although the outcome is identical, the reward reflects the degree of personal challenge involved.

The Legacy of Aaron the High Priest

Aaron the High Priest was renowned for his extraordinary kindness and love of peace. The Mishnah describes him as someone who "loved peace and pursued peace."

He could not bear conflict. Whenever he learned of a quarrel between husband and wife or between neighbors, he would not rest until he had restored harmony between them.

This explains an interesting difference recorded in the Torah.

When Moses passed away, Scripture says, "The Children of Israel wept for Moses." The Sages explain that this primarily refers to the men.

When Aaron died, however, the Torah states, "The entire House of Israel wept for Aaron." Men, women, and children all mourned him because everyone had personally benefited from his efforts to create peace within families and communities.

Naturally, Aaron raised his children and grandchildren to follow the very same path, of distancing themselves from conflict and pursuing peace.

Pinchas' Greatest Challenge

When Pinchas saw the leader of the tribe of Simeon publicly committing a grave sin and realized that decisive action was required, he faced an almost impossible challenge.

Pinchas was the grandson of Aaron. He came from a family whose defining characteristic was compassion, gentleness, and the relentless pursuit of peace. How could someone raised with such refined character suddenly step forward and perform an act of zeal that required taking another person's life?

For Pinchas, this was not an act that came naturally. It demanded extraordinary self mastery. He needed to overcome every instinct within himself in order to do what God's law required at that moment.

This, explains the Torah, is precisely why his lineage is emphasized. 

"Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the Kohen." Precisely because he was Aaron's grandson, his act represented an unparalleled victory over his own nature.

Therefore, God granted him an exceptional reward: "Behold, I give him My covenant of peace... and it shall be for him and for his descendants after him an everlasting covenant of priesthood."

Break Your Nature

The Rebbe of Dinov derives a remarkable lesson from this idea.

When a person needs a salvation that transcends the natural order, they should strive to perform a mitzvah that runs contrary to their natural disposition.

When someone breaks through the limitations of their own character, God responds measure for measure by breaking through the apparent limitations of nature on their behalf, granting them extraordinary Divine assistance.

Rabbi Akiva's Secret

This principle is reflected in the Talmud (Ta'anit 25b).

During a severe drought, Rabbi Eliezer led the congregation in prayer, reciting twenty four blessings, yet no rain fell.

Rabbi Akiva then stood to pray and simply said: "Our Father, our King, we have no King but You. Our Father, our King, have mercy upon us for Your sake."

Immediately, rain began to fall.

The Sages wondered whether Rabbi Akiva's prayers were somehow greater than those of Rabbi Eliezer.

A Heavenly Voice answered:

"It is not because one is greater than the other, but because Rabbi Akiva overlooks personal offenses, while Rabbi Eliezer does not."

Rabbi Akiva's greatness lay in his willingness to overcome his natural emotional reactions. That inner victory gave tremendous power to his prayers.

The entire message can be summarized in the timeless words of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk: "A person was created for one purpose alone: to break their natural inclinations."

Our greatest achievements are not measured by what comes easily. They are measured by the moments when we rise above ourselves, overcome our instincts, and choose what is right over what is comfortable. Those are the moments that earn Heaven's greatest reward.