Hophni

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

One of the sons of Eli. His name signifies to cover, from the Hebrew Chaphah. This man's history is a very awful one, as we read it,  1 Samuel 2:1-36;  1 Samuel 3:1-21;  1 Samuel 4:1-22. His brother Phinehas, or Pinehai more properly, and which signifies a countenance or face, from Panah, to behold, was another such a character as himself. Both lived in the commission of the same sins, and both died under the same judgment of God. The infamy of these men while ministering before the Lord, the Holy Ghost hath faithfully recorded; and their history presents itself as a monument in the church, to be read by all that minister in holy things. Oh, that the Lord may cause it to operate as an alarm in the Lord's holy mountain!

The sin of those priests respecting the sacrifice is not, at first view, so generally understood. The peace-offerings, as prescribed by the law, ( Leviticus 3:1, etc.) give directions for the fat of the beasts offered in sacrifice, and also for the parts to be taken away. The portion allotted to the priests Moses directed. ( Leviticus 7:31-34) For the servants, therefore, to demand the portion for his master before the Lord's portion, was irreverent and unbecoming. Add to this, they were not content with the priest's portion, it should seem, but took more, and that, if not immediately given, by violence. They were what the prophet called "greedy dogs, that never could have enough." ( Isaiah 56:11) The irreverence of the priests brought contempt, as might well be supposed, upon the offerings of the Lord. Alas! what accumulated evils follow the commission of sin in the service of the sanctuary!

See Eli

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Hoph'ni. Hophni (Pugilist) and Phinehas. (Brazen Mouth). The two sons of Eli, who fulfilled their hereditary sacerdotal duties at Shiloh. Their brutal rapacity and lust,  1 Samuel 2:12-17;  1 Samuel 2:22, filled the people with disgust and indignation, and provoked the curse, which was denounced against their father's house, first by an unknown prophet,  1 Samuel 2:27-36, and then by Samuel.  1 Samuel 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.  1 Samuel 4:10-11. (B.C. 1130).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Eli the priest. He and his brother Phinehas also acted as priests; but their sin was very great both respecting the offerings of the Lord and as to their moral conduct. Their father reproved them, but did not restrain them. They accompanied the ark to the war with the Philistines and were both slain.  1 Samuel 1:3;  1 Samuel 2:34;  1 Samuel 4:4-17 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 1:3 2:34Phinehas

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

See Eli .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Chophni', חָפְנַי , perh. Pugilist, according to others Client; Sept. Ο᾿Φνί ), the first-named of the two sons of the high-priest Eli ( 1 Samuel 1:3;  1 Samuel 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 ( 1 Samuel 2:22;  1 Samuel 2:12-17), filled the people with disgust and indignation, and provoked the curse which was denounced against their father's house first by an unknown prophet ( 1 Samuel 2:27-36), and then by the youthful Samuel in his first divine communication ( 1 Samuel 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 ( 1 Samuel 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" ( 1 Samuel 2:12). (See Elt).