The Torah In Haiku: Pinchas

The Midianite
Killed by Pinchas the Zealot
Her name was Cozbi

In last week’s portion, Balak, we are told that Pinchas killed an Israelite man and a Midianite woman. As this week’s portion begins, we learn their names.

The Israelite was Zimri, son of Salu, from the tribe of Simeon. That means a descendent of the brother who took action after his sister, Dinah, was raped, is now responsible for the plague brought on the Israelites because of his “cavorting” with a Midianite woman.

The Midianite was Cozbi, daugher of Tzur, a king of Midian.