Parshat Vaeira contains a paradigm shift; after 210 years in Egyptian exile, the process of redemption is about to begin in earnest with the initiating of the ten plagues. Prior to the beginning of the Makkot, however, the Torah tells us the genealogy of several of the ancient families of Am Yisrael, and culminating with the lineage of Aharon and Moshe [see Vaeira, 6, 24-25]. Fascinatingly, the Torah states [ad. Loc.]:
“...Elazar, son of Aharon took, for himself one of the daughters of Putiel, for a wife, and she bore him Pinchas. These are the heads of the Levites’ patriarchs according to their families…"
Rashi, as well as the other Torah commentaries, are entirely puzzled by the mentioning of an individual by the name of “Putiel", who appears nowhere else in Tanach; therefore, Rashi offers that:
“...ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF PUTIEL - of the family of Jethro (cf. Rashi on Exodus 4:18) who used to fatten (פטם) calves for idolatrous sacrifice, and of the family of Joseph who overcame (פטפט, who talked or argued with) his passion (Sotah 43a; Bava Batra 109b)..."
Remarkably, it turns out that Pinchas, who will emerge as one of the great heroes of Am Yisrael much later on, [see the end of Parshat Balak and the beginning of Parshat Pinchas], had ancestry from both Yisro and Yosef, who in each of their own ways would battle intense temptation and reach wondrous spiritual heights. It is no wonder that Pinchas will eventually display this very trait of single-minded dedication to Hashem, no matter the obstacles in the way, first when he will assassinate Zimry, the wayward leader of the tribe of Shimon, and later on, as the passionate prophet Eliyahu [our Sages state that Pinchas was, in fact, the very same person as Eliyahu]. Of course, the puzzling question that immediately arises is, what does this have to do at all with the current state of the Jews in Egypt? Tracing the development and lineage of Pinchas would seem to have no relevance for Am Yisrael at the beginning of the Exodus!
Perhaps the underpinnings of an answer can be found in the comments of the Haamek Davar on the above Possuk; Haamek Davar notes that the Torah’s describing the wife of Elazar in these Pesukim is designed to teach that she contributed greatly to Elazar’s lofty status-hence, they were blessed with a child as great as Pinchas. And while Pinchas’ future still needs to be explored, the Torah has made clear that Elazar’s wife served as the catalyst for his birth-in much the same vein, the Gemara [Sotah 11B] states:
“...Rav Avira taught: In the merit of the righteous women that were in that generation, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt…’’
Ergo, perhaps we can suggest, that the Torah’s description of the birth of Pinchas is serving to allude to the ultimate reason for the Jews’ redemption from Egypt in the first place-in the merit of the righteous women of the generation! [See further, the commentary of Rokeach ad. Loc. for a similar approach].
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.
Have a Great Shabbat!