John Gill Commentary 1 Chronicles 9:20

"And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, [and] Jehovah was with him." — 1 Chronicles 9:20 (ASV)

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in
time past
Over the host, over the Levites, and the chief of them; which is to be understood of Phinehas the son of Eleazar, in the time of Moses, who succeeded his father in that post, see (Numbers 3:32) though some think, as Kimchi observes, that this was not Phinehas the priest, but a certain Levite of this name in this post; but since he is said to be in time past, it may very well be understood of him: and it also is observed,

and the Lord was with him ;
inspiring him with zeal for his honour and glory, assisting and strengthening him to do his will and work, as particularly in the affair of Zimri, (Numbers 25:7Numbers 25:8) , the Targum is, ``the Word of the Lord was for his help;'' this may be said for the encouragement of him that was in the same office now.