Hophni and Phinehas were the sons of Eli, who was a High Priest and Judge in ancient Israel. According to the Bible, Eli was a priest at the sanctuary of Shiloh and he served as a judge for Israel for 40 years. Hophni and Phinehas were priests under their father Eli, but they were known for their immoral behavior and lack of reverence for God, which ultimately led to their downfall.