Hophni
Hoph'ni (Heb. Chophni', חָפנַי, perh. pugilist, according to others client; Sept. Ο᾿φνί), the first-named of the two sons of the high-priest Eli (1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 2:34), who fulfilled their hereditary sacerdotal duties at Shiloh. Their brutal rapacity and lust, which seemed to acquire fresh violence with their father's increasing years (1Sa 2:22,12-17), filled the people with disgust and indignation, and provoked the curse which was denounced against their father's house first by an unknown prophet (ver. 27-36), and then by the youthful Samuel in his first divine communication (1Sa 3:11-14). They were both cut off in one day in the flower of their age, and the ark, which they had accompanied to battle against the Philistines, was lost on the same occasion (1Sa 4:10-11). B.C. cir. 1130. The predicted ruin and ejectment of Eli's house were fulfilled in the reign of Solomon. SEE ZADOK. The unbridled licentiousness of these young priests gives us a terrible glimpse into the fallen condition of the chosen people (Ewald, Gesch. 2, 538-638). The Scripture calls them "sons of Belial" (1Sa 2:12). SEE ELT.
