At the end of Balak, while everyone weeps at the Tent of Meeting and no one knows what to do, Pinhas rises, takes the spear and stops the plague. In a place where there are no men — strive to be a man.

By all logic, we would expect Pinhas to succeed Moshe. But when the moment of appointment comes (chapter 27), the Torah surprises us.

Moshe is not shaken and asks nothing for himself. His first concern is who will lead the people in his place.

In the Book of Shoftim, Yiftah (Jephthah) vows: "Whatever comes out of my door, I will offer up." And his daughter comes out to greet him.

But Pinhas said: "Let the one who needs the Rav come to him." And Yiftah said: "I won a great victory — let him come to me." Each stood on his honor — and the daughter fell between the chairs.

After the conquest of Jericho, Achan takes from the herem (the banned spoil). Israel falls at Ai — 36 dead — a great humiliation. (Hashem does not reveal who sinned: He does not speak lashon hara.)

Yehoshua casts lots and reaches Achan. Now he knows for certain that this man caused the disaster — and could crush him. Note the approach:

And after the confession — he carried the judgment through to the end: Achan and all that was his were stoned and burned in the Valley of Achor, and Hashem's fierce anger turned away from Israel — and Ai was conquered at once. The gentleness did not cancel the justice; it only came first.

In honor of the Hilula: the Ohr HaChaim asks — why specifically the title "God of the spirits"? And why "who shall go out... and who shall come in"?

And from his words you learn: if such a man is found, Moshe consents to be gathered to his people. Moshe's interest was entirely, 100%, Am Israel. May the merit of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh protect us.