 When the tribes of Reuben and Gad, together with the half-tribe of Manasseh, depart to take possession of their lands beyond the Jordan, they build a great altar on the other side; the remainder of the Israelites mistake this for a separatist move to set up a new religious centre, and send Phinehas to investigate.According to , Phinehas owned land in the mountains of Ephraim, where he buried his father.In addition to these episodes, Phinehas appears as the chief adviser in the war with the Benjamites.