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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Hophni and Phinehas</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/h/hophni_and_phinehas.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/1_samuel/1-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/h/hophni.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Hophni and Phinehas</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/h/hophni.htm" title="Hophni">◄</a> Hophni and Phinehas <a href="/topical/naves/h/hophni--death_of.htm" title="Hophni: Death of">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Hophni and Phinehas were the two sons of Eli, the high priest of Israel during the time of the judges. Their account is primarily found in the book of 1 Samuel, where they are depicted as priests serving at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Despite their sacred duties, Hophni and Phinehas are remembered for their egregious misconduct and disobedience to God, which ultimately led to their downfall and the judgment upon their family.<br><br><b>Priestly Role and Misconduct</b><br><br>As sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were born into the Levitical priesthood, a position of great responsibility and honor. They were tasked with performing sacrifices and maintaining the sanctity of the tabernacle. However, the biblical narrative highlights their corruption and moral failings. <a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12</a> describes them as "worthless men; they did not know the LORD." Their actions were in direct violation of the priestly code and the commandments of God.<br><br>One of the primary accusations against Hophni and Phinehas was their abuse of the sacrificial system. According to <a href="/1_samuel/2-13.htm">1 Samuel 2:13-17</a>, they would take portions of the sacrifices meant for God before the fat was burned, which was against the law. This act of greed and irreverence showed their contempt for the sacred offerings and their disregard for the divine instructions given to the priests.<br><br>Additionally, Hophni and Phinehas were guilty of sexual immorality. <a href="/1_samuel/2-22.htm">1 Samuel 2:22</a> states that they "slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting." This behavior not only defiled the tabernacle but also led the people of Israel into sin, as the priests were meant to be examples of holiness and righteousness.<br><br><b>Divine Judgment</b><br><br>The wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas did not go unnoticed by God. A man of God came to Eli with a prophetic message, declaring that because of the sins of his sons and his failure to restrain them, judgment would come upon Eli's house. <a href="/1_samuel/2-31.htm">1 Samuel 2:31-34</a> foretells the downfall of Eli's lineage, stating that both Hophni and Phinehas would die on the same day as a sign of God's judgment.<br><br>This prophecy was fulfilled during a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines. The Israelites, desperate for victory, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the battlefield, hoping it would ensure their success. Hophni and Phinehas accompanied the Ark, but their presence did not bring the desired outcome. Instead, the Philistines defeated the Israelites, captured the Ark, and killed both Hophni and Phinehas, as recorded in <a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10-11</a>.<br><br><b>Legacy and Impact</b><br><br>The deaths of Hophni and Phinehas marked a significant turning point in Israel's history. Their demise, along with the capture of the Ark, symbolized the departure of God's glory from Israel, as expressed in the lament of Phinehas' wife, who named her son Ichabod, meaning "The glory has departed from Israel" (<a href="/1_samuel/4-21.htm">1 Samuel 4:21-22</a>).<br><br>The account of Hophni and Phinehas serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of reverence for God's commands. Their actions and the resulting judgment underscore the necessity for those in spiritual leadership to uphold the standards of holiness and integrity, as their conduct can have profound implications for themselves and the community they serve.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">Hophni and Phinehas</span><p><span class="encheading">HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS</span><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," <a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12</a>). Their evil practices are described (<a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12-17</a>). Twice is Eli warned concerning them, once by an unknown prophet (<a href="/1_samuel/2-27.htm">1 Samuel 2:27</a>) and again by the lips of the young Samuel (<a href="/1_samuel/3-11.htm">1 Samuel 3:11-18</a>). The curse fell at the battle of Aphek (<a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">1 Samuel 4:1-18</a>) 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 (<a href="/1_kings/2-26.htm">1 Kings 2:26, 27, 35</a>).<br><br>Henry Wallace<p><a name="amt" id="amt"></a><div class="vheading2">ATS Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Hophni and Phinehas</span><p>The guilty and wretched sons of Eli the high priest. They grossly and continuously abused the influence of their position and sacred office; and their cupidity, violence, and impious profligacy, overbearing the feeble remonstrances of their father, brought disgrace and ruin on their family. The ark, which they had carried to the camp in spire of divine prohibitions, was taken, and they were slain in battle, <a href="/context/1_samuel/2-1.htm">1 Samuel 2:1-4:22</a>. See <a href="../e/eli.htm">ELI</a>. The ark of God protects only those who love and obey him. Men in all ages are prone to rely on a form of religion, while the heart and life are not right with God; and all who thus sin, like the sons of Eli, must perish likewise. </p><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_f/faithlessness_and_defeat.htm"><span class="l">Faithlessness and Defeat</span></a> <br><b>...</b> bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between<br> the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>, were there <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/faithlessness and defeat.htm</font><p><a href="/library/baring-gould/the_village_pulpit_volume_ii_trinity_to_advent/lxv_religious_zeal.htm"><span class="l">Religious Zeal.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Eli, the priest and judge of Israel, had two sons, <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>, and<br> they were priests in Shiloh. They were utterly bad, profligate <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxv religious zeal.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/city_of_god/chapter_5_of_those_things_which.htm"><span class="l">Of those Things which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> And this shall be a sign unto thee that shall come upon these thy two sons,<br> <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>; in one day they shall die both of them. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 of those things which.htm</font><p><a href="/library/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_38_1892/is_god_in_the_camp.htm"><span class="l">Is God in the Camp?</span></a> <br><b>...</b> character. In their distress, instead of calling upon God, they sent for<br> <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>. Why did their hearts turn to them? <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/is god in the camp.htm</font><p><a href="/library/anonymous/mother_stories_from_the_old_testament/death_of_eli_and_his.htm"><span class="l">Death of Eli and his Sons.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Presently a messenger came who told him the Israelites had fled before the Philistines,<br> that his two sons <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b> were slain, and that the ark of <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/death of eli and his.htm</font><p><a href="/library/wesley/sermons_on_several_occasions/sermon_104_on_attending_the.htm"><span class="l">On Attending the Church Service</span></a> <br><b>...</b> And have we any proof that the Priests who succeeded them were more holy than them,<br> than <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>; not only till God permitted ten of the tribes to <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 104 on attending the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/golden/conversion_of_a_high_priest_into_a_christian_worker/chapter_iv_high_priest.htm"><span class="l">High Priest</span></a> <br><b>...</b> down to idolatry, the old testament abounds in evidences, but I shall only mention<br> the incidents of Eli the high priest and his two sons, <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm</font><p><a href="/library/watson/a_divine_cordial/the_tests_of_love_to.htm"><span class="l">The Tests of Love to God</span></a> <br><b>...</b> It is not said, his heart trembled for <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b>, his two sons, but his<br> heart trembled for the ark, because if the ark were taken, then the glory was <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the tests of love to.htm</font><p><a href="/library/ryle/the_upper_room_being_a_few_truths_for_the_times/preface.htm"><span class="l">Preface</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Bishops, priests, and deacons may err, and have erred greatly, like <b>Hophni</b>, and<br> <b>Phinehas</b>, and Annas, and Caiaphas, who were in direct succession to Aaron. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/preface.htm</font><p><a href="/library/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_4_1858/the_form_and_spirit_of.htm"><span class="l">The Form and Spirit of Religion</span></a> <br><b>...</b> yourselves. <b>Hophni</b> and <b>Phinehas</b> are slain, and so must every priest be if he<br> relies on ceremonies himself or teaches others to do so. I <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the form and spirit of.htm</font><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/obedience-better-than-sacrifice.html">Why is obedience better than sacrifice? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Hannah-and-Samuel.html">What is the story of Hannah and Samuel? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Hannahs-prayer.html">What is the significance of Hannah's prayer? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/h/hophin.htm">Hophin</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/h/hophni.htm">Hophni</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/h/hophni_and_phinehas.htm">Hophni and Phinehas</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/h/hophni--death_of.htm">Hophni: Death of</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/h/hophni--sin_of.htm">Hophni: Sin of</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/h/hophni--son_of_eli.htm">Hophni: Son of Eli</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/phin'ehas.htm">Phin'ehas (24 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/phinehas.htm">Phinehas (24 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eli.htm">Eli (36 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eli's.htm">Eli's (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/shiloh.htm">Shiloh (34 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/almighty.htm">Almighty (242 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/armies.htm">Armies (361 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hophra.htm">Hophra (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/y/yearly.htm">Yearly (16 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/losses.htm">Losses (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/inhabiting.htm">Inhabiting (23 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fleshhook.htm">Fleshhook (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/flesh-hook.htm">Flesh-hook (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/enthroned.htm">Enthroned (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/befall.htm">Befall (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cherubs.htm">Cherubs (52 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/allotment.htm">Allotment (24 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/winged.htm">Winged (69 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/happens.htm">Happens (32 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sits.htm">Sits (52 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/answereth.htm">Answereth (144 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sitteth.htm">Sitteth (74 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hosts.htm">Hosts (326 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hopeth.htm">Hopeth (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/captured.htm">Captured (143 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/overtake.htm">Overtake (113 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/slaughter.htm">Slaughter (121 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/dwelleth.htm">Dwelleth (142 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/suffered.htm">Suffered (88 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/resting-place.htm">Resting-place (211 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/proper.htm">Proper (62 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/heavy.htm">Heavy (110 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cherubim.htm">Cherubim (63 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fled.htm">Fled (181 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sadducees.htm">Sadducees (14 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/slain.htm">Slain (235 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/thence.htm">Thence (152 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bow.htm">Bow (248 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tabernacle.htm">Tabernacle (333 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/names.htm">Names (133 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines (224 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a 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