Bible Dictionary
HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS
Hophni and Phinehas were the wicked sons of Eli and priests at Shiloh. Their abuse of the sanctuary and its worshipers brought divine judgment; both died when the ark was captured by the Philistines.
Definition
Hophni and Phinehas were the sons of Eli and priests at the sanctuary at Shiloh. Their conduct was wicked, and their abuses of the priestly office brought prophetic warnings and divine judgment.
Biblical Usage
Their evil practices are described in 1 Samuel 2. Eli was warned first by an unknown prophet and later through Samuel. Hophni and Phinehas died at the battle of Aphek when the ark was captured by the Philistines, and the disaster led to Eli’s death. Phinehas was the father of Ichabod.
Historical Background
The later deposition of Abiathar from the priestly office is presented as a remoter sequel to the warnings against Eli’s house.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>hof'-ni, fin'-e-as, -az (chophni, "pugilist" (?), pinechac, probably "face of brass"): Sons of Eli, priests of the sanctuary at Shiloh. Their character was wicked enough to merit the double designation "sons of Eli" and (the King James Version) "sons of Belial" (the Revised Version, margin "base men," 1Sa 2:12). Their evil practices are described (1Sa 2:12-17). Twice is Eli warned concerning them, once by an unknown prophet (1Sa 2:27) and again by the lips of the young Samuel (1Sa 3:11-18). The curse fell at the battle of Aphek (1Sa 4:1-18) at which the brothers were slain, the ark was taken and the disaster occurred which caused Eli's death. Phinehas was father of the posthumous Ichabod, whose name marks the calamity (see ICHABOD). A remoter sequel to the prophetic warnings is seen in the deposition of Abiathar, of the house of Eli, from the priestly office (1Ki 2:26,27,35).</p><p>Henry Wallace</p>