The introduction of Ahijah here in the chapter prepares the reader for the events of verses 18-19. Good News Translation restructures by beginning a new sentence in verse 3 and by placing the first part of this verse within parentheses, indicating its parenthetical nature.
A literal translation of the names in this verse, following the order of the Hebrew, may be confusing. Four generations are named, and the relationships of the persons named are as follows: Ahijah, the priest, was the great-grandson of Eli. Ahijah’s father was Ahitub. Ahitub and Ichabod (see 4.21) were brothers, and their father was Phinehas. Eli was the father of Phinehas.
Ephod: in this context the term seems to refer to an object used to learn the will of God rather than to an article of priestly clothing. The accompanying verb wearing (Revised Standard Version and New American Bible) is therefore perhaps better rendered “carrying” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation). See the comments on 2.18 and 28.
The people, that is, “the soldiers” (New American Bible).
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .