Philo on Phinehas and the Levites: Observing an Exegetical Connection

Philo of Alexandria draws an exegetical connection between the episode of the golden calf (Exod 32) and Phinehas's response to the apostasy in Moab (Num 25). This note sets out four strategic links Philo has forged between the two episodes. While this is ultimately equivocal evidence in assessing Philo's stance toward sacred violence in his own day, a similar connection between the two episodes may also underlie Paul's exegesis in 1 Cor 10:8.