Zealotry and Leadership

Let the Omnipotent God of all living souls appoint a man over the community.         Numbers 27:16

            The Kotzker Rebbi questions the timing of Moses’ request that God appoint his replacement and asks why the request was not made immediately after God informed him that he would not enter the Land.

            The Rebbi answers that until the matter of Zimri, Moses was certain that Phinehas, “The holy one of God” was destined to be his replacement. However, after Phinehas’ zealous act, even though it was “exceedingly great and of unfathomable holiness,” Moses understood that a zealot cannot be the leader of Israel. Therefore, specifically following Phinehas’ act of zealotry, Moses asked God to appoint a suitable successor to him.

            Rabbi Moshe Zuriel expands and elucidates the Kotzker Rebbi’s comment. Rashi explains the phrase “God of all living souls” thus:

Moses said to Him: “Master of the World, you know that the character of each (Israelite) is unique, appoint a leader who can accept every one according to his individuality.

            A leader in Israel must be not only “the holy one of God” but also graced with tolerance, a trait which is lacking in zealots. Despite the lofty personal level Phinehas achieved, he was not qualified to be the Israelite’s leader. Though Phinehas reached a purity of heart which is remarkable, he was not the type of person suited to national leadership.

            Rabbi Zuriel quotes Maimonides’ words, which essentially define the qualities of a leader:

He should bear the nation's difficulties, burdens, complaints, and anger as a nurse carries an infant. Psalms 78:71 refers to a king as a shepherd: “to be shepherd over Jacob, His nation.” The prophets have described the behavior of a shepherd: “As a shepherd pastures his flock, He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom." [Isaiah 40:11]                                                    Laws of Kings 2:11

            Finally, Rabbi Zuriel quotes Radbaz [Responsum 2294], who explains that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought Elijah to heaven, replacing him with his disciple Elisha, saying, as it were, “to leave Elijah in the world is not possible, for he will always be a zealot and not argue in defense of Israel, therefore it is best for him to ascend to heaven.”

            We can note that our Sages’ tradition is that the Prophet Elijah is Phinehas.