Phinehas
    mouth of brass, or from old Egypt, the negro. (1.) Son of
    Eleazar, the high priest (Ex. 6:25). While yet a youth he
    distinguished himself at Shittim by his zeal against the
    immorality into which the Moabites had tempted the people (Num.
    25:1-9), and thus "stayed the plague" that had broken out among
    the people, and by which twenty-four thousand of them perished.
    For his faithfulness on that occasion he received the divine
    approbation (10-13). He afterwards commanded the army that went
    out against the Midianites (31:6-8). When representatives of the
    people were sent to expostulate with the two and a half tribes
    who, just after crossing Jordan, built an altar and departed
    without giving any explanation, Phinehas was their leader, and
    addressed them in the words recorded in Josh. 22:16-20. Their
    explanation follows. This great altar was intended to be all
    ages only a witness that they still formed a part of Israel.
    Phinehas was afterwards the chief adviser in the war with the
    Benjamites. He is commemorated in Ps. 106:30, 31. (See ED.)

      (2.) One of the sons of Eli, the high priest (1 Sam. 1:3;
    2:12). He and his brother Hophni were guilty of great crimes,
    for which destruction came on the house of Eli (31). He died in
    battle with the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:4, 11); and his wife, on
    hearing of his death, gave birth to a son, whom she called
    "Ichabod," and then she died (19-22).



 Phinehas, bold aspect; face of trust or protection