Ithamar
“Land of palms, or coast of palms”
Summary
The youngest son of Aaron, who served as priest and whose descendants formed one of the two main priestly lines.
☩Priestly Service
Ithamar was the youngest of Aaron's four sons, consecrated along with his father and brothers for the priesthood. After the death of Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire, Ithamar and his brother Eleazar continued the priestly line. Ithamar was given oversight of the Gershonites and Merarites in transporting the tabernacle during the wilderness journey.
☩Priestly Line
The descendants of Ithamar formed one of the two main priestly divisions, alongside the line of Eleazar. Though the high priesthood was generally held by Eleazar's descendants, Eli and his sons were of Ithamar's line, holding the office until the time of Solomon. When David organized the priestly courses, eight divisions came from Ithamar's descendants compared to sixteen from Eleazar's line.
Related Verses21 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ithamar," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ithamar," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).