1 Samuel 14 3

1 Samuel 14:3 kjv

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

1 Samuel 14:3 nkjv

Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

1 Samuel 14:3 niv

among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

1 Samuel 14:3 esv

including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

1 Samuel 14:3 nlt

Among Saul's men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh. No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp.

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 3 Meaning

1 Samuel 14:3 introduces Ahijah, the high priest of the LORD, who was with Jonathan, Saul's son. The verse establishes Ahijah's prestigious yet spiritually troubled lineage, tracing him back to Eli through Phinehas and Ahitub, and specifically identifying him as Ichabod's brother. His presence and the mention of him "wearing an ephod" signify the availability of divine counsel and a legitimate means of consulting God, despite the ongoing spiritual decline and the previous judgment upon Eli's house and the nation, symbolized by Ichabod's name. This context sets the stage for the crucial decisions and actions of Jonathan and Saul.

1 Samuel 14 3 Context

1 Samuel 14 finds Saul's kingdom under significant pressure from the Philistines. The Israelites are ill-equipped and demoralized, with many hiding in caves. Saul's army numbers only six hundred men. Amidst this despair, Jonathan, Saul's son, demonstrates remarkable faith and courage by initiating a daring attack on a Philistine garrison without his father's knowledge. Verse 3 serves to highlight the religious authority present with Saul at Gibeah—Ahijah the high priest, bearing the symbols of his office, the ephod, which would typically be used to seek divine guidance. This sets up a crucial spiritual dimension to the narrative: even though the Lord's presence and glory were previously diminished (Ichabod), a means of discerning His will still existed, highlighting the responsibility placed upon Saul's leadership. The earlier historical context of Eli's family downfall and the capture of the Ark profoundly informs the spiritual climate during Saul's reign, with the priesthood's lineage reminding the audience of past judgment and a precarious spiritual state.

1 Samuel 14 3 Word analysis

• and Ahijah (וַאֲחִיָּה va’achiyyah): "And Ahijah." Ahijah (meaning "my brother is Yahweh" or "brother of Yahweh") is identified as the high priest. His presence signifies the formal continuity of the Aaronic priesthood during Saul's reign, even as the nation was struggling spiritually and militarily. He serves as a critical conduit for seeking divine guidance.
• the son of Ahitub (בֶּן-אֲחִיטוּב ben-achituv): "Son of Ahitub." Ahitub means "my brother is goodness." This specific identification links Ahijah directly into the line of Eli. It emphasizes his hereditary right to the priestly office.
• Ichabod's brother (אֲחִי אִיכָבוֹד achi 'iichavod): "Brother of Ichabod." Ichabod means "no glory" or "where is the glory?". This name commemorates the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines and the death of Eli and his sons, a traumatic event marking a period of God's glory departing from Israel (1 Sam 4:21-22). Identifying Ahijah as Ichabod's brother serves as a potent, immediate reminder of divine judgment and the nation's spiritual nadir, adding a layer of ironic gravity to Ahijah's high priestly office. It points to the continued presence of the consequences of sin, even amidst priestly function.
• son of Phinehas (בֶּן-פִּינְחָס ben-piinachas): "Son of Phinehas." Phinehas was Eli's wicked son, known for his unrighteousness and contempt for the Lord's offerings (1 Sam 2:12-17, 22-25), leading to the prophetic judgment against Eli's house. This further emphasizes the tainted lineage, highlighting God's faithfulness in providing a priest despite the failings of previous generations. Ahijah is actually Phinehas' grandson, with Ahitub as the intervening generation (Eli → Phinehas → Ahitub → Ahijah). The phrase "son of Phinehas" is thus likely referring to Ahitub's paternity.
• son of Eli (בֶּן-עֵלִי ben-eeli): "Son of Eli." Eli was the high priest and judge who received God's judgment for not restraining his wicked sons (1 Sam 2:27-36; 3:11-14). The phrase explicitly connects Ahijah's lineage to the house under divine curse, underscoring the severe consequences of sin even for those in positions of spiritual leadership.
• the LORD's priest (כֹּהֵן יְהוָה kohen Yahweh): "Priest of Yahweh." This phrase designates Ahijah's official capacity as a legitimate minister of God. Despite the historical stains on his family line, he holds the office established by God for the spiritual well-being and guidance of Israel. It means he represents God to the people and the people to God.
• in Shiloh (בְּשִׁילֹו bishiloh): "In Shiloh." Shiloh was the location of the tabernacle and central sanctuary of Israel for centuries, where Eli served (1 Sam 1:3; 4:3-4). However, at this time, Shiloh had likely been destroyed by the Philistines following the Ark's capture (Jer 7:12; Ps 78:60-64). This phrase, therefore, identifies Ahijah's origin and priestly family affiliation rather than his current geographical location. It emphasizes his authoritative heritage despite the desolation of his ancestral home.
• wearing an ephod (נֹשֵׂא אֵפוֹד nose' ephod): "Wearing an ephod." The ephod was a special garment worn by the high priest (Exod 28). Crucially, it housed the Urim and Thummim, sacred objects used by the priest to ascertain God's will (Num 27:21; 1 Sam 23:9-12). This detail is significant because it indicates Ahijah possessed the means to consult the Lord directly, offering a path to divine guidance that Saul or Jonathan might seek. It suggests an ongoing, albeit sometimes neglected, covenantal relationship between God and Israel.

1 Samuel 14 3 Bonus section

• Shiloh's Prophetic Fate: The mention of Shiloh, a key religious center for centuries where the Tabernacle stood, subtly recalls its predicted desolation. Jeremiah 7:12-14 and Psalm 78:60-64 speak of God abandoning Shiloh and destroying it due to Israel's unfaithfulness. By this time (Saul's reign), Shiloh had likely already suffered destruction after the Ark's capture. Thus, "in Shiloh" refers to Ahijah's priestly family roots and lineage, not necessarily his current location or the standing of the tabernacle there. This further underscores the pervasive spiritual decay of the period.
• Tension between King and Priest: The presence of the priest Ahijah with the king's son Jonathan sets the stage for the recurring dynamic in Israelite history between royal and priestly authority. While the king led militarily and politically, the priest was the channel for divine counsel, ensuring the nation operated under God's will. Saul's subsequent interactions with Ahijah and Samuel in this chapter and later chapters will demonstrate his increasing impatience with and disregard for seeking genuine divine guidance, highlighting a critical flaw in his leadership that ultimately leads to his rejection.
• Contrasting Figures of Faith: This verse subtly contrasts Jonathan's bold, proactive faith (which leads him to initiate the attack without consulting Ahijah initially) with Saul's more hesitant and ultimately disobedient approach, despite having the physical presence of the ephod-wearing priest nearby. It sets the scene for a test of leadership based on dependence on God versus self-reliance or ritualistic adherence without true faith.

1 Samuel 14 3 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:3 is more than a simple identification of Ahijah; it's a profound theological statement woven into the narrative of Saul's early reign. The explicit mention of Ahijah's lineage—through Ahitub, Ichabod, Phinehas, and Eli—serves as a constant, sobering reminder of God's past judgment upon a corrupted priesthood and a rebellious nation. The very name Ichabod ("no glory") stands as a somber historical marker of God's temporary departure from His people due to their sin and their leadership's failure. Yet, in God's patient sovereignty, a priest from this very line, still "the LORD's priest," remains present, equipped with the ephod—the instrument for divine consultation. This highlights God's continued faithfulness to His covenant promises, always providing a way for His people to seek His guidance, even amidst their spiritual and national brokenness. Saul's access to such a divinely appointed intermediary, capable of seeking the Lord's will in times of crisis, sets up a tension with his later rash and impatient actions. The verse subtly underscores that even when outward glory might be absent or stained by sin, God retains the channels through which He can communicate with His people, emphasizing the enduring importance of seeking His will above all else. This can be compared to individuals today who, despite challenging or flawed backgrounds, are called by God and empowered to serve within the ongoing framework of His redemptive plan, reminding us that God works through available vessels.