NUM312 When Pinchas became a zealot [Numbers 25:11] and "took the law into his own hands," killing Zimri, who was publicly desecrating God's name (Numbers 25:7-9), God gave Pinchas the reward of peace (Numbers 25:12). Although there are many explanations of what this reward actually entailed, the Netziv (Haamek Davar, commentary on Numbers 25:12) explains that this was a gift to Pinchas of inner peace. God was afraid that Pinchas' zealousness, although proper in this incident, might turn into a permanent anger. God thus changed Pinchas's personality, giving him a sense of inner peace, where he would no longer be an angry person. The Netziv further demonstrated this concept (Haamek Davar, commentary on Deuteronomy 13:18) regarding the mitzvah in which the Jews were commanded to completely eradicate a city of idol worship, and God promised a reward of mercy (Deuteronomy 13:18). This reward of mercy is granted to individuals who, in performing God's commandment to destroy the city, might develop into "angry personalities." This mercy granted them inner peace, so that this angry passion for God would be subdued. Another person who is known as a zealot was Elijah the prophet, who certainly helped to inspire the people via zealotry (I Kings 19:10). Nevertheless, God transformed Elijah, as well, into a man of peace, as his mission in the future is to usher in the Messiah, the ultimate man of peace. Thus, we see that achievement of inner peace, a sense of personal contentment, is the first goal.