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What does it mean that Pinchas 'channeled Hashem (ה׳)'s kina' - was he acting from zealous emotion? Rashi (רש"י) explains that true kina means feeling Hashem's own perspective and acting as Hashem would act, which requires extraordinary dveikus beyond human emotional response. The contrast with Peninnah's well-intentioned but misguided torment of Channah shows that good intentions without proper perspective can still cause harm.
Rabbi Yeshaya Greenberg ZT"L begins by examining the phrase 'mechane es kinosi' regarding Pinchas, challenging the conventional understanding of zealotry. While many translate this as Pinchas being zealous for Hashem (ה׳)'s honor, Rashi (רש"י) provides a fundamentally different interpretation. According to Rashi, 'kina' here means vengeance (nekamah), not jealousy, and Pinchas was 'mechane mai kina' - he channeled Hashem's own anger and took the vengeance that Hashem Himself would have taken. This means Pinchas wasn't acting from his own emotional response to defend Hashem's honor, but rather he felt Hashem's feelings and acted as Hashem would have acted if doing it for Himself. The shiur then examines the mechanics of how Pinchas acted, citing Rashi's explanation that when Pinchas saw the incident, he 'remembered the halacha (הלכה)' of 'haba al aramis kanai'im pogin bo' (one who cohabits with a non-Jewish woman, zealots may kill him). Crucially, Pinchas didn't act impulsively - he went to Moshe Rabbeinu to confirm the halacha, saying 'mekubbalani mimcha' (I received this tradition from you). Moshe, who had forgotten the halacha, confirmed it and told Pinchas that since he remembered it, he should carry it out ('hamekabel maamar hu ya'aseh'). Only then did Pinchas act.
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Parshas Pinchas
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