The BibleGospel Companion

Ithamar

אִיתָמָר · i.ta.mar · H0385“island of the palm-tree” Hitchcock's 186920 mentions in 5 books, most in 1 Chronicles (7)
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Ithamar
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Who he was

Ithamar was the fourth and youngest son of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Exodus 6:23). He served as a priest alongside his brothers Nadab, Abihu, and Eleazar (Numbers 3:2). After the deaths of Nadab and Abihu for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1–2), Ithamar and Eleazar were warned not to mourn for them openly (Leviticus 10:6).

Ithamar assisted his father Aaron and his brother Eleazar in their priestly duties (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:4). He was responsible for overseeing the Gershonites and Merarites, two of the Levite clans, in their tabernacle duties (Num.4.28,33). During the dedication of the tabernacle, Ithamar assisted Moses in receiving the offerings from the tribal leaders (Numbers 7:8).

Ithamar's descendants continued to serve as priests (1 Chronicles 24:1–6). They were divided into divisions for their appointed duties, just as Aaron's other descendants were. One of Ithamar's notable descendants was Eli, who served as high priest and judge in Israel (1 Samuel 14:3; 1 Kings 2:27).

In Ezra 8:2, a descendant of Ithamar named Daniel is mentioned among the priests who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. This highlights the continuity of Ithamar's lineage in the priesthood.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherAaronMotherElishebaSiblingsNadab, Abihu, EleazarChildrenUnnamed
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

20 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
ExodusChapter 6: 1 mentionChapter 28: 1 mentionChapter 38: 1 mention3 mentions
Exodus 6:23Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.Exodus 28:1“Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office: Aaron, with Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and…Exodus 38:21These are the amounts of materials used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the…
LeviticusChapter 10: 3 mentions3 mentions
Leviticus 10:6Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear your clothes, so that you don’t die, and so that he will not be…Leviticus 10:12Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons who were left, “Take the meal offering that remains of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside…Leviticus 10:16Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burned. He was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,
NumbersChapter 3: 2 mentionsChapter 4: 2 mentionsChapter 7: 1 mentionChapter 26: 1 mention6 mentions
Numbers 3:2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.Numbers 3:4Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they offered strange fire before Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office…Numbers 4:28This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.Numbers 4:33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”Numbers 7:8He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.Numbers 26:60To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
1 ChroniclesChapter 6: 1 mentionChapter 24: 6 mentions7 mentions
1 Chronicles 6:3The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.1 Chronicles 24:1These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.1 Chronicles 24:2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.1 Chronicles 24:3David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.1 Chronicles 24:4There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses…1 Chronicles 24:5Thus they were divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.1 Chronicles 24:6Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the…
EzraChapter 8: 1 mention1 mention
Ezra 8:2Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.

What the dictionary says

Palm isle, the fourth and youngest son of Aaron (1 Chr. 6:3).

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources