Hophni and Phinehas

The first book of Samuel describes them as the officiating priests at the sanctuary of Shiloh at the time of Hannah.

[1] In the biblical narrative, Hophni and Phinehas are criticised for engaging in illicit behaviour, such as appropriating the best portion of sacrifices for themselves, and having sexual relations with the sanctuary's serving women.

They are described as "sons of Belial" in (1 Samuel 2:12) KJV, "corrupt" in the New King James Version, or "scoundrels" in the NIV.

Their misdeeds provoked the wrath of Yahweh and led to a divine curse being put on the house of Eli, and they subsequently both died on the same day, when Israel was defeated by the Philistines at the Battle of Aphek near Eben-ezer; the news of this defeat then led to Eli's death (1 Samuel 4:17–18).

In the Talmud, some commentators argue that Phinehas was innocent of the crimes ascribed to him and that Hophni alone committed them, though Jonathan ben Uzziel declares that neither was wicked, and that this part of the biblical narrative, in which the crimes are imputed to them, should be regarded as having a figurative meaning.