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Ithamar
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Ithamar

The youngest son of Aaron, consecrated with his brothers to the priesthood, who with Eleazar carried the priestly line forward after Nadab and Abihu were struck down. He was given charge of the tabernacle's transport — the Gershonite and Merarite Levites who carried the coverings, boards, bars and pillars — and oversaw the metals collected for its construction. The house of Eli, and Abiathar after him, descended from Ithamar.

Role: Priest
Lived: c. 13th century BC
Belonged to: Priests, Tribe of Levi
Tribe/lineage: Levi

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
BibleSon of Aaron and Elisheba.
Exodus 6:23
Aaron · Elisheba
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Levi.
Exodus 6:23
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe etymology of Ithamar (Hebrew 'Itamar) is debated; proposals include "coastland/island of palms" or a compound involving the word tamar ("palm/date tree"), though no interpretation is secure. There is no external artifact or ancient non-biblical author that attests this specific son of Aaron.
Standard onomastic discussion of Hebrew 'Itamar; the palm-tree element tamar is generally agreed, the first element uncertain.

Where in scripture

ExodusLeviticusNumbers1 ChroniclesEzra

Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Exodus 6:23 — Son of Aaron

“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, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

Exodus 28:1

This is the amount of material 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 Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:21

Moses 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 not be angry with all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Yahweh has kindled.

Leviticus 10:6

Moses 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 the altar; for it is most holy;

Leviticus 10:12

Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burned: and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,

Leviticus 10:16

These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Numbers 3:2

Nadab 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 in the presence of Aaron their father.

Numbers 3:4

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Exodus 6:23Exodus 28:1Exodus 38:21Leviticus 10:6Leviticus 10:12Leviticus 10:16Numbers 3:2Numbers 3:4Numbers 4:28Numbers 4:33Numbers 7:8Numbers 26:601 Chronicles 6:31 Chronicles 24:11 Chronicles 24:21 Chronicles 24:31 Chronicles 24:41 Chronicles 24:51 Chronicles 24:6Ezra 8:2

Family