Numbers 25:14
Ver. 14. Now the name of the Israelite that was slain,.... By Phinehas, as before related:
[even] that was slain with the Midianitish woman; who was slain also, both together with one thrust:
was Zimri, the son of Sela, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites; or a prince of his father's house, or family; there were five families of the Simeonites, and this man was a prince of one of them, see Nu 26:12 though Josephus {h}, and so the Samaritan Chronicle {i}, make him to be a prince of the tribe of Simeon. His name is mentioned partly to the reproach of him, and partly for the honour of Phinehas, whose zeal and courage were such, that he feared not to take away the life of a person of such figure, authority, and interest among the people.
{h} Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 10. {i} Apud Hottinger, Smegma Oriental, l. 1. c. 8. p. 448.