Ahitub (High Priest)

Ahitub was the grandson of the priest Eli: his father Phinehas and uncle Hophni were killed when the Philistines captured the Ark at the battle of Ebenezer, and on hearing the news his father's widow died giving birth to his brother Ichabod, "the glory has departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4). Eli himself, aged 98, fell backward and died. Ahitub is named only as the father of Ahijah, who wore the ephod with Saul's army (1 Samuel 14:3), and of Ahimelech, priest of Nob (1 Samuel 22:9). Eli's house traced its descent to Aaron's son Ithamar (1 Chronicles 24:3).

His generation lived after the disaster of Shiloh, which Jeremiah (7:12) and Psalm 78:60 recall as the place God abandoned, and under the shadow of the prophecy against Eli's house (1 Samuel 2:27–36), which would be fulfilled at Nob and with Abiathar's removal. He should not be confused with another Ahitub, father of Zadok (2 Samuel 8:17), who belonged to Eleazar's line.