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Ithamar

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMalePriestSon

Ithamar was the fourth and youngest son of Aaron, who served as a priest alongside his brothers Nadab, Abihu, and Eleazar (Exo.6.23; Num.3.2).

Ithamar illustration
Ithamar

Biography

Ithamar was the youngest of Aaron's four sons, born alongside Nadab, Abihu, and Eleazar during the Egyptian sojourn (Exodus 6:23). He was consecrated to the priesthood alongside his brothers at the foot of Sinai (Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 8) and was assigned significant administrative responsibilities in the wilderness. Numbers 4:28, 33 places Ithamar in charge of the Gershonite and Merarite Levites, overseeing the transport and care of the tabernacle's outer coverings, screens, and supporting structures. After the catastrophic deaths of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10), Ithamar and Eleazar continued the Aaronic priestly line. Ithamar's descendants eventually formed a distinct priestly division, with the priest Eli and his house descending from the Ithamarite line (1 Chronicles 24:3).

Significance

Ithamar's life demonstrates the enduring faithfulness required of those called to sacred service. Surviving the tragedies that befell his brothers, he carried forward the priestly ministry with apparent integrity, shouldering expanded responsibilities during the wilderness period. His administrative stewardship over the Levitical clans points to an often-unsung dimension of priestly vocation: the practical organization of worship. In the later division of priestly duties under David (1 Chronicles 24), the Ithamarite line received eight of the twenty-four priestly divisions, indicating a continued and honored role in Israelite worship. Ithamar's legacy teaches that faithful perseverance through loss and adversity is itself a form of sacred service.

Verse Appearances (20)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources