Dear Meriam,
 
In regard to your post at http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2004/meriamb731.htm about Phinehas, the son of Eleazar not dying  until 396 years or so later because there is a time gap of 396 yrs. between the time Phinehas is mentioned in Num. 25:10-13 and when Phinehas is mentioned again in 1 Samuel 3:11-12, the Phinehas mentioned in 1 Samuel 3:11-12 is a completely different Phinehas, and he was the son of Eli who is not Eleazar.  How I know this is because Strong's Concordance identifies and lists three different men named Phinehas in the Old Testament.
 
Phinehas the son of Eleazar is in Ex.6:25, Num. 25:7&11, Num. 31:6, Josh. 22:13&30-32, 24:33, Judges 20:28, 1 Chronicles 6:4&50, 9:30, Ezra 7:5, 8:2, and in Psalms 106:30,
 
Phinehas, the son of Eli is mentioned in 1 Samuel 1:3, 2:34, 4:4,11,& 17, and in 1 Samuel 14:3.
 
Phinehas, the father of Eleazar is mentioned in Ezra 8:33.
 
I hope this clears up the confusion as to the long time period when Phinehas is not mentioned in the Bible.
 
You also asked a question "Do you suppose this whole scenerio is a vision that Eli is having?" but 1 Samuel 3:1 tells us, "And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision."
 
Also in regards to the prophecy against Eli's house that you pointed out as being in 1 Samuel 3:11-14, and in chapter 4, this prophecy against the house of Eli is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 2:22-36.  1 Samuel 2:22 tells us that "Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."  If you continue reading the verses that follow, you will see that Eli confronted his two sons about their sins, but they didn't hearken unto the voice of their father.  1 Samuel 2:12-17 also tells about the sins of Eli's two sons and what they did in regard to the meat offerings that they weren't supposed to do.    In 1 Samuel 2:29-30, a man of God comes to Eli to tell him what the Lords says, "Wherefore ye kick at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?  Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me: for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."  Eli knew what his sons were doing with the meat offerings, but he didn't stop what they were doing.  If you continue reading verses 31-36, you will see what all the Lord prophesies he is going to do to Eli's house along with his prophecy about his two sons Hopni and Phinehas dying.
 
God bless,
Donna