• Ithamar
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ITHAMAR

      (Ithʹa·mar) [probably, isle of palms].

      The fourth listed of Aaron’s sons. (Ex. 6:23; Num. 26:60; 1 Chron. 6:3) After having supervised the inventory of tabernacle materials, Ithamar, with his father and brothers, was installed into the priesthood in the ceremony detailed at Exodus 29. (Ex. 28:1; 38:21; 40:12-15) When his two older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, were later executed for offering “illegitimate fire,” Ithamar and his third brother Eleazar were told not to mourn for them. Later, Ithamar and Eleazar received a greater portion of priestly duties as Jehovah progressively outlined these. (Lev. 10:1-20) Ithamar was made overseer of the various tabernacle services performed by the Gershonites and Merarites.—Num. 3:2-4; 4:28, 33; 7:8.

      Ithamar’s descendants continued as priests, and during the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, the house of Ithamar’s descendant Eli temporarily officiated as high priest. When David organized the temple service, eight of the twenty-four priestly divisions were of the house of Ithamar. (1 Chron. 24:1-6; 1 Sam. 14:3; 22:9; see HIGH PRIEST.) Sons of Ithamar were also enrolled among the paternal houses of Israel after the Babylonian exile.—Ezra 8:2.

  • Ithlah
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ITHLAH

      (Ithʹlah) [a hanging or lofty place].

      One of the border cities of Dan. (Josh. 19:40, 42) Its exact location is uncertain. Some link Ithlah with Beit Thul, about nine miles (c. 14 kilometers) W-NW of Jerusalem.

  • Ittai
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ITTAI

      (Itʹtai) [with me is Jehovah].

      1. A Gittite warrior, presumably from the Philistine city of Gath, who was very loyal to David. When David and his cortege were fleeing Jerusalem due to Absalom’s rebellion, six hundred Gittites, including Ittai, came along. David tried to dissuade Ittai from leaving the city, but the warrior expressed his great devotion in these terms: “As Jehovah is living and as my lord the king is living, in the place where my lord the king may come to be, whether for death or for life, there is where your servant will come to be!” David then permitted Ittai to continue accompanying him.—2 Sam. 15:18-22.

      After numbering his forces, David appointed this non-Israelite Ittai, along with Joab and Abishai, as chiefs, each over one-third of the army.—2 Sam. 18:2, 5, 12.

      2. One of David’s mighty men; a Benjamite and the son of Ribai of Gibeah. (2 Sam. 23:29) He is called Ithai at 1 Chronicles 11:31.

  • Ituraea
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ITURAEA

      (It·u·raeʹa) [pertaining to Jetur].

      A small territory of varying and undefined boundaries located NE of the Sea of Galilee. The name “Ituraea” is thought to derive from Ishmael’s son Jetur, whose descendants residing E of the Jordan were defeated by the Israelites. (Gen. 25:15, 16; 1 Chron. 1:31; 5:18-23) Toward the close of the second century B.C.E. the Maccabean king Aristobulus I successfully warred against Ituraea and added much of its territory to Judea. To remain in the country, the inhabitants of Ituraea had to submit to circumcision and obey Jewish law. (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XIII, chap. XI, par. 3) Later, Ituraea was one of the territories comprising the tetrarchy of Philip, inherited from his father Herod the Great.—Luke 3:1.

  • Ivory
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • IVORY

      The creamy-white tusks of the elephant, hippopotamus, walrus and other animals. Though hard, and having a density about three-and-a-half times as great as seasoned cedarwood, it is highly elastic and is easily carved or tooled. Its fine grain gives it a pleasing touch and finish that has remarkable durability. The intersecting layers of dentine, alternating in shade, add to its utility a beauty all its own. Non-Biblical writings tell that herds of elephants roamed over the Near and Middle East in the first and second millenniums B.C.E., while archaeological findings confirm the rather extensive use of ivory by the nation of Israel and her neighbors.

      Ivory has been associated with the luxuries of life—fine art, elegant furnishings, treasured riches. Solomon’s ships, once every three years, brought great quantities of ivory from faraway places. (1 Ki. 10:22; 2 Chron. 9:21) Befitting his glory and greatness, Solomon “made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with refined gold.” (1 Ki. 10:18; 2 Chron. 9:17) The Psalms mention “the grand ivory palace” in connection with stringed instruments of music. (Ps. 45:8) In the lovely Song of Solomon the writer uses ivory as a metaphor and a simile to express beauty: “His abdomen is an ivory plate covered with sapphires,” “Your neck is like an ivory tower.” (Song of Sol. 5:14; 7:4) King Ahab also built himself a palace using costly ivory, making it a veritable “house of ivory.” (1 Ki. 22:39) In the days of Amos houses and couches were constructed with ivory.—Amos 3:15; 6:4.

      Egypt too used this natural “plastic” in making such things as combs, fan