Chasidut for Numbers 25:10

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Pinhas the son of Eleazar… [has settled my wrath…] Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace” (Num. 25:10-12), and the Sages of Blessed Memory, in the Talmud (Zevachim 101b) interpreted that Pinhas only became a priest after he had killed Zimri. We must understand the phrasing of saying, which must be to Israel since the statement to Pinhas is stated explicitly in the verse, Therefore say (to him), ‘Behold, I give to him’ etc. – but what was the statement to Israel? We must also understand the phrasing of settled rather than saying “removed” my wrath etc.