The Gemara told that after Phinehas killed Zimri and Cozbi, the Israelites began berating Phinehas for his presumption, as he himself was descended from a Midianite idolater, Jethro. The Israelites said: "See this son of Puti (Putiel, or Jethro) whose maternal grandfather fattened ("pittem") cattle for idols, and who has now slain the prince of a tribe of Israel (Zimri)!" To counter this attack, the Gemara explained, God detailed Phinehas's descent from the peaceful Aaron the Priest in . And then in God told Moses to be the first to extend a greeting of peace to Phinehas, so as to calm the crowd. And the Gemara explained to indicate that the atonement that Phinehas had made was worthy to atone permanently.