Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 14:3

"and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod`s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone." — 1 Samuel 14:3 (ASV)

Ahiah, the son of Ahitub. —The Chronicles, recounting these facts, show us what a terrible impression the last events in Eli’s reign as high priest had made in Israel. The destruction of Shiloh, the death of the high priest, the fall of Phinehas and his brother in battle, and the melancholy circumstances of the birth of Ichabod, were still fresh in the memory of the people. Jonathan might well have been ready to sacrifice himself if he could deal an effective blow against these hereditary enemies of his country.

We never hear again of this high priest Ahiah in these Books of Samuel. He is generally supposed to be the same as the high priest Ahimelech, who was later murdered by Doeg, by Saul's direction, with the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:9 and following). The name Ahiah signifies “brother” or “friend of the Eternal”; Ahimelech, “brother of the king,” may be another form of the same name.

Wearing an ephod. —The ephod alluded to here is not the ordinary priestly vestment of white linen, but that official garment worn only by the high priest, which contained the breastplate of gems with the mysterious Urim and Thummim, by which the Lord was consulted.