Hophni and Phinehas
Hophni and Phinehas appear in the beginning of the book of 1 Samuel. Who are they? They were priests, and they were the sons of the High Priest Eli in Shiloh in the land of Ephraim. The Bible says the Lord desired to kill them. Why?
They both showed contempt or disrespect for the Lord's sacrifice. When a person came with their offering, and the meat was boiling in the pot, Hophni and Phinehas would take a three pronged fork and take whatever portion came on the fork from the pot and claim it for themselves. When the one offering the sacrifice protested, the two sons would say that their father (the High Priest) will not accept boiled meat only raw. The problem with this is that the fat of the animal was supposed to be burned on the altar. The evil sons said if the one sacrificing would not listen to them, they would take the offering by force - thus stealing what belonged to the Lord. In addition, Hophni and Phinehas were also sleeping with the women who would bring their sacrifices (1 Sam 2:12-17,22).
It is important that we do not miss the import of what is going on here. These men are despising God and the office they are in. To be in leadership and engage in gross sin is a very serious matter. It would be just as heinous as if this were a Pastor or elders
at your local Church were stealing the money and sleeping with the women in the Church. Because these men were evil and unwilling to repent after being warned by their father Eli explains why God wanted to put them to death (1 Sam 2:25).
Eli was a poor example to his sons. He knew what they were doing and did nothing about it other than to verbally rebuke them. At best he should have removed them from their holy office. At worst, they should have been sentenced to death. Eli did neither. Neither son listened to their father proving their disdain for his instruction, leadership and authority. In hating their father’s instruction, they were ultimately hating God, the most serious offense of all. At the end of the chapter an unnamed prophet pronounced the death of Hophni and Phinehas. The “man of God” as he is called also rebukes Eli for stating that he honored his sons above the Lord. When the sons were robbing the sacrifices of the people, Eli benefited too (1 Sam 2:29). Eli was somewhat complicit in the evil of his sons - he was eating the meat from their stolen sacrifices. As a result, the man of God told him that he and his father’s house would be cut off from the priesthood. That prophecy came true once Eli’s sons were killed by the Philistines (1 Sam 4:11). When Eli heard the news that the Ark of the Covenant had been captured by the Philistines, he fell out of his chair, broke his neck and died (1 Sam 4:18).
What should we learn from this tragic account? 1) That we should take the Lord seriously and fear Him. Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were priests because they were from the tribe of Levi. Their responsibility was to lead and teach the people in the ways of the Lord (Lev 10:9-10). You cannot do that when you are worse than the ones you’re supposed to be leading. Also. 2) If we are in constant rebellion against the Lord, we should be very afraid. Not to be afraid is far worse. Why?
To be unafraid of the consequences of your sin is to be deceived by it. Our sin if allowed can seduce us into thinking that we are somehow impervious to its effects. One does not realize how egregious their sin is and how it is an affront to God Almighty. The writer is guilty of this often. When one is judged by their sins, they do not see it coming from far away to avoid it. Judgement comes swiftly and unexpectedly like a mighty rushing wind.
In the case of Hophni and Phinehas, they had hardened themselves so deep in their sin that they became incorrigible. Their consciences had been seared (1 Tim 4:2). God decided that it was time for them to face ultimate justice, death (Lev 10:1). When men are in leadership and are supposed to be the instruments of the Lord's reformation and righteousness yet you corrupt God's holy priestly office by living wickedly on purpose with no contrition, how can there be any hope for them? Only death awaits (Rom 6:23). That ended up being the fate of Hophni and Phinehas.
at your local Church were stealing the money and sleeping with the women in the Church. Because these men were evil and unwilling to repent after being warned by their father Eli explains why God wanted to put them to death (1 Sam 2:25).
Eli was a poor example to his sons. He knew what they were doing and did nothing about it other than to verbally rebuke them. At best he should have removed them from their holy office. At worst, they should have been sentenced to death. Eli did neither. Neither son listened to their father proving their disdain for his instruction, leadership and authority. In hating their father’s instruction, they were ultimately hating God, the most serious offense of all. At the end of the chapter an unnamed prophet pronounced the death of Hophni and Phinehas. The “man of God” as he is called also rebukes Eli for stating that he honored his sons above the Lord. When the sons were robbing the sacrifices of the people, Eli benefited too (1 Sam 2:29). Eli was somewhat complicit in the evil of his sons - he was eating the meat from their stolen sacrifices. As a result, the man of God told him that he and his father’s house would be cut off from the priesthood. That prophecy came true once Eli’s sons were killed by the Philistines (1 Sam 4:11). When Eli heard the news that the Ark of the Covenant had been captured by the Philistines, he fell out of his chair, broke his neck and died (1 Sam 4:18).
What should we learn from this tragic account? 1) That we should take the Lord seriously and fear Him. Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were priests because they were from the tribe of Levi. Their responsibility was to lead and teach the people in the ways of the Lord (Lev 10:9-10). You cannot do that when you are worse than the ones you’re supposed to be leading. Also. 2) If we are in constant rebellion against the Lord, we should be very afraid. Not to be afraid is far worse. Why?
To be unafraid of the consequences of your sin is to be deceived by it. Our sin if allowed can seduce us into thinking that we are somehow impervious to its effects. One does not realize how egregious their sin is and how it is an affront to God Almighty. The writer is guilty of this often. When one is judged by their sins, they do not see it coming from far away to avoid it. Judgement comes swiftly and unexpectedly like a mighty rushing wind.
In the case of Hophni and Phinehas, they had hardened themselves so deep in their sin that they became incorrigible. Their consciences had been seared (1 Tim 4:2). God decided that it was time for them to face ultimate justice, death (Lev 10:1). When men are in leadership and are supposed to be the instruments of the Lord's reformation and righteousness yet you corrupt God's holy priestly office by living wickedly on purpose with no contrition, how can there be any hope for them? Only death awaits (Rom 6:23). That ended up being the fate of Hophni and Phinehas.
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