Parashat Pinchas begins with God's promise to reward Pinchas for his heroic act of killing Zimri, the tribal leader of Shimon, and Kozbi, the Midyanite princess, as they publicly engaged in forbidden relations. The reward promised to Pinchas is spread over two verses, and appears to consist of two parts. In the first verse, God grants him "beriti shalom" – "My covenant of peace." Then, in the second verse, Pinchas receives "berit kehunat olam" – the covenant of eternal priesthood." The second of these promises is relatively clear.