Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 14

The word "Now" should rather be translated as "and," since this verse is immediately dependent upon the preceding one. When Jonathan saw the garrison come out again and again in defiance of the armies of the living God, he finally, upon a day, determined to attack them.

Under a pomegranate - Compare 1 Samuel 22:6 and Judges 4:5. Saul was at the northern extremity of Gibeah, about an hour’s march from Geba, where Jonathan was.

Migron, if the reading is correct, must be a different place from the Migron mentioned in Isaiah 10:28.

It is impossible to say with certainty whether "Ahiah" (or "Ahijah") is the same person as "Ahimelech the son of Ahitub," or if Ahimelech was the brother or son of Ahijah and his successor in the priesthood.

Most likely, "Ahijah" and "Ahimelech" are variations of the same name, with only the latter element of each name being different: מלך melek (king) is substituted for the divine name יה yāh. For comparison, see "Eliakim" and "Jehoiakim" in 2 Kings 23:34, or "Eliab" and "Eliel" in 1 Chronicles 6:27 and 1 Chronicles 6:34.

This genealogical fragment is a very valuable aid to the chronology. The high priest at this time was the grandson of Phinehas, the son of Eli. Samuel, who was now an old man, was likely a few years older than Ahitub, the son of Phinehas. All this indicates a period of about 50 years or more had passed since the Philistines captured the ark.

The Lord’s priest in Shiloh. Since Eli was so emphatically known and described as God’s priest at Shiloh in 1 Samuel 1–4, and since there is every reason to believe that Shiloh was no longer the location of the ark in Saul’s time (see 1 Samuel 22; 1 Chronicles 13:3–5), it is better to understand this phrase as referring to Eli, not Ahijah. The words that follow, "wearing an ephod," then apply to Ahijah (see 1 Samuel 2:28 and the note on Judges 1:1).

The southern cliff was called “Seneh,” or “the acacia,” and this name still applies to the modern valley, which is dotted with acacias. The northern cliff was named “Bozez,” or “Shining.” The valley runs nearly due east, and the northern cliff has a ruddy and tawny tint, is crowned with gleaming white chalk, and stands in the full glare of the sun for almost the entire day. (Conder)

It is remarkable that the epithet “uncircumcised,” used as a term of reproach, is confined almost exclusively to the Philistines (compare 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36; Judges 14:3; Judges 15:18; and others). This is probably an indication of the long oppression of the Israelites by the Philistines and of their frequent wars.