Are There Two Phinehas in the Bible? 
There is a question of whether there is one Phinehas and one Hophni in the Bible. The answer is both, depending on who you believe. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, joins the army as a priest and takes charge of signaling bugles and holy vessels. Some scholars say that Phinehas was chosen instead of his father Moses, since Moses felt that he had already started the battle. However, some people believe that the two are the same people.
Hophni
Hophni and Phinehas in Israel’s history are notable characters. They were the sons of Eli and both were killed in battle when the Philistines captured the ark of God. However, their stories are not the only one that is related in the Bible.
Phinehas
According to the Bible, there are two Phinehas in the story. The oldest is the son of Eli and the second is the brother of Hophni. Both were priests and the descendants of Eli. When the ark was captured by the Philistines, Phinehas was killed along with his brother. The two other surviving sons of Phinehas were Ichabod and Ahitub. These two sons were later high-priests of Shiloh and Nob.
Hophni’s sons
Hophni and Phinehas were the sons of Eli, who served as high priests in the city of Shiloh while Hannah was still alive. Unlike their father, Hophni and Phinehas had corrupt character and did not know the LORD. The Bible describes them as “sons of Belial” and “scoundrels.” Nevertheless, the Bible states that Hophni and Phinehas died on the same day when Israel was defeated by the Philistines at Aphek near Eben-Ezer.
Josephus
Phinehas is a biblical character who kills two people in the book of Numbers: the son of an Israelite chieftain and the daughter of a Midianite chieftain. This is considered a triple immoral act and a form of spiritual immorality. These two people committed idolatry and apostasy, and Phinehas punished both of them by killing them on the spot.
Eleazar
Eleazar and Phinehas are two Israelite priests who played important roles in the nation of Israel. They were related to Moses and Aaron and come from a distinguished family. Eleazar’s uncle was Moses, and his aunt was Miriam. His mother is named in the Bible as Elisheba, Exodus 6:23. In addition to being priests, Eleazar and Phinehas were also important to Moses in the distribution of land to the Israelites. Eleazar and Phinehas were a couple of the leaders of the Korahite Levites and he succeeded his father as the high priest.
Samuel
Samuel is the leader of Israel, emerging among the tragic events of the ark’s capture and the death of Eli and his family. He represents a new start for Israel, while also providing continuity with their ancient history. In this chapter, we read that Samuel has two phanehas, whose names mean’snatches’, because they are eating the fat that should be reserved for God. This is consistent with Leviticus 3:16-17, Numbers 18:17, and the indictment of David in 2 Samuel 12. This action is an example of despising God.
Idotatry
In the Bible, idolatry is defined as the worship and service of created things, which are not God. Idols have no worth and draw people away from God. The New Testament also condemns idolatry, calling it foolish vanity and error.
Covenant with God
The idea of covenant is an important part of biblical theology. It is the theological glue that holds promises together. The biblical history of salvation is essentially the unfolding of God’s covenants. The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible includes an entire section on the covenants of the Bible.
His descendants
The Old Testament contains an interesting look at the lives of two priests named Phinehas, who share the same Old Covenant calling but handle their duties in very different ways. This contrast offers guidance for Christians today. In the Book of Numbers, we learn about Phinehas, a grandson of Aaron and a descendant of Eleazar. Later, he is associated with the prophet Elijah.