Mei HaShiloach, Vol. I, Pinchas, s.v. “Vayar Pinchas”

Behold there are ten levels of sexual passion. The first is one who adorns himself and goes out intentionally after a sinful liaison, that is, he himself pulls toward him the evil inclination. After that there are another nine levels, and at each level another aspect of freedom is taken from him so that increasingly he cannot escape from sin until the tenth level. At that [level] if he distances himself from the evil inclination and guards himself from sin with all his power until he has no capacity to protect him- self further and still his inclination overpowers him and he does the act, then it is surely the will of God. ... For Zimri in truth guarded himself from all wicked desires, and when he understood that she was his soul mate, it was not in his power to release himself from doing this deed. . . . The essence of the matter is that Pinhas thought Zimri was an ordinary adulterer . . . and the depth of the matter eluded him regarding Zimri that she (Cozbi) was his soul mate from the six days of creation. [Translation by Rabbi Steve Greenberg]