Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 2:19

"Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice." — 1 Samuel 2:19 (ASV)

A little coat - The robe of the ephod was also one of the garments worn by the High Priest .

This specific mention of the ephod and the robe worn by the young Samuel seems to point to an extraordinary and irregular priesthood to which God called him. This occurred at a time when the provisions of the Levitical law were not yet in full operation. In the eyes of his contemporaries, this was not improper, since nonconformity to the whole Law was the rule rather than the exception throughout the time of the Judges.