"Vayar Pinchas? What did Pinchas see (more than anybody else)?
Rashi (citing Sanhedrin, 82a #1, citing Rav): He saw what was happening and remembered the Halachah. He said to Moshe 'You taught us that 'ha'Bo'el Aramis, Kana'im Pog'in bo'. 1
Targum Yonasan: He saw that everyone else remained silent - he tremembered the Halachah and sprang into action.
Sanhedrin, 82a #2 (citing Shmuel): He 'saw' that there is no wisdom, no plan and no understanding before Hashem - that where there is Chilul Hashem one does not give Kavod to one;s Rebbi (so he took action). 2
Sanhedrin, 82a #3 (citing R. Yitzchak Amar R. Elazar): He saw that a Mal'ach had arrived and was striking down the people. 3
Rashi: To which Moshe replied ?The person who reads the letter should be the Shali'ach to carry out its instructions'. Pinchas was not asking Moshe for permission, because if he had been, he would not have been permitted to kill the adulterers. See Oznayim la'Torah. See also Torah Temimah, who discusses why Pinchas also killed Kozbi.
See Torah Temimah, note 16.
Torah Temimah: And it was not the time to wait for Moshe to remember the Halachah.
What are the connotations of "Va'yakam mi'Toch ha'Eidah"?
Rashi (in Sanhedrin, 82a): It means that he rose from the Sanhedrin ? who were divided into groups - who were judging Dinei Nefashos, to punish those who had sinned by Ba'al Pe'or. 1
Targum Onkelos: It means simply that he separated from the community.
Targum Yonasan: It means that he rose from his Sanhedrin (of which he was a member).
Indeed, with his act of zealousy, he prevented the judgement from being carried out (Targum Yonasan): And when he Davened, after casting Zimri and Kozbi down, the plague stopped ? Refer to 25:9:151:2.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that Pinchas told Moshe that he learned from him that 'ha'Bo'el Aramis... .' But the Gemara states in Eruvin 63a that one who isssues a ruling in front of his Rebbi is Chayav Misah'?
