17th day of Tamuz and the story of Pinchas

Shabbos Sermons Parshas Balak
Our closeness to HaShem is in two parts, as we said on Sinai, Living with HaShem, and our internal emotional relationship with HaShem.
Balak couldn't attack the relationship, but succeeded in seducing our living in Holiness.
This same two elements explains a phenomenon about 1) the sin of the golden calf vs. the sin of the spies, and 2) the destruction of the first beis hamikdash vs. the second.
It also explains the story of Pinchas becoming a Cohen.