Jewish mysticism..

I was interested if anyone would list details of why Jews tend to believe that Elijah was the incarnation of Phinehas ( Phinehas transfigured into Elijah then later Elijah transfigured ). I doubt it to be present but if you can document it in the Tanakh please do! I am not here preaching on this subject but rather interested in why some have drawn certain conclusions. I will always be leaning back on The Tanakh and the Gospels over any rabbinical studies but interested in collecting many view points.

 (I have noticed referances to the Haggadah (Aggadah), Rabbinic literature, and the Babylonian Talmud on the subject of Elijah) (Mishnah?)

 Why did early rabbis feel lead to claim that Phinehas was Transformed into Elijah? Shouldn't people be slow to make such strong claims? What was the evidence?  I have heard referances to this in discussion with Jews many times.

I have been told there are many commentaries on this and when I ask if its mostly got to do with symbolism I am told "its a belief that Elijah Is The Incarnation of Phinehas".??? (Heb.9:27)

Hope someone will come through and speak on this!

________just a few areas on the subject__(notes)__

Num.25:7-8
And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

Num.25:11
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Ex.6:25
And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

Ps.106:30

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

Personal study notes:

Mal.4:5/ Numbers 25:12-13/ 1 Chron.8:27/

Life of Elijah 1 Kings 17-19, 21 2 Kings 1-2 (1 Kings 17:1-2)/

Ezra 10:21 / Ex.2:11-14 / Num.25:8/ Num.3:4 / 1 Sam.2:34-36 / 1 Sam.4:19

John the Baptist Luke 1:17/ Jn.1:21/ Christ Matt.16:14/ Mark 6:15 Mk.8:2/ Luke 9:8,19/ Matt.11:14/ Matt.17:11/ Mk.19:12/ Matt.17:3/ Mk/9:4/ Lk.9:30

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 I know many of us embrace the message that John the Baptist came in the Spirit of Elijah (IF THEY WOULD RECIEVE HIM, which they didnt) and we (some of us) look for him (Elijah)

to return as One of The 2 Witnesses!

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The following vid sparked my interest in the subject. The main reason I come up with, that rabbis of old would have embraced this claim is because Phinehas was lead of The Spirit to stand up and allow the Judgement of YHWH to issue forth through his actions before the congregation when all else were not so moved, 2 Kings 1:10 / I still see it as a rather strong claim to tie this directly to Elijah (even though I see some symbolism present).

I just find myself interested in why (some) Jews see Phinehas as Elijah so that I grasp all the significance of such a claim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTlW-wHdhgs 

Peace be to those of the circumcision (of the heart)

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