In the
Torah, Ithamar () was the fourth (and the youngest) son of
Aaron
According to Abrahamic religions, Aaron ''′aharon'', ar, هارون, Hārūn, Greek (Septuagint): Ἀαρών; often called Aaron the priest ()., group="note" ( or ; ''’Ahărōn'') was a prophet, a high priest, and the elder brother of ...
the High Priest.
["Ithamar", '' Encyclopaedia Biblica''] Following the construction of the
Tabernacle, he was responsible for recording an
inventory
Inventory (American English) or stock (British English) refers to the goods and materials that a business holds for the ultimate goal of resale, production or utilisation.
Inventory management is a discipline primarily about specifying the shap ...
to ensure that the constructed Tabernacle and its contents conformed to the vision given by God to
Moses
Moses hbo, מֹשֶׁה, Mōše; also known as Moshe or Moshe Rabbeinu (Mishnaic Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, ); syr, ܡܘܫܐ, Mūše; ar, موسى, Mūsā; grc, Mωϋσῆς, Mōÿsēs () is considered the most important pro ...
on
Mount Sinai.
Kohen
After the death of his two eldest brothers,
Nadab and Abihu, when they had been punished by the Lord for performing an unauthorized incense offering, Ithamar served as a
priest along with his elder brother,
Eleazar, and Ithamar and Eleazar are regarded as the direct male ancestors of all
Kohanim.
records an incident when
Moses
Moses hbo, מֹשֶׁה, Mōše; also known as Moshe or Moshe Rabbeinu (Mishnaic Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, ); syr, ܡܘܫܐ, Mūše; ar, موسى, Mūsā; grc, Mωϋσῆς, Mōÿsēs () is considered the most important pro ...
was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, for failing to eat a sin offering inside the Tabernacle in accordance with the regulations set out in the preceding chapters of Leviticus regarding the entitlement of the priests to a share of the offerings they made on behalf of the Israelite people.
During the travels of the
Israelites in the
wilderness
Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural), are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally re ...
, Ithamar was responsible for the work of the sons of
Gershon and
Merari, the carriers of the Tabernacle fittings and structures, whilst Eleazar was responsible for the work of the sons of
Kohath, who carried the cult objects (the
ark
Ark or ARK may refer to:
Biblical narratives and religion Hebrew word ''teva''
* Noah's Ark, a massive vessel said to have been built to save the world's animals from a flood
* Ark of bulrushes, the boat of the infant Moses
Hebrew ''aron''
* ...
, the
altar and the
lampstand
A light fixture (US English), light fitting (UK English), or luminaire is an electrical device containing an electric lamp that provides illumination. All light fixtures have a fixture body and one or more lamps. The lamps may be in sockets for ...
).
[
He was also in charge of the work of the Levites in general.
]
Descendants
According to Samaritan sources a civil war broke out between the sons of Ithamar ( Eli) and the sons of Phinehas which resulted in the division of those who followed Eli and those who followed High Priest Uzzi ben Bukki at Mount Gerizim Bethel (a third group followed neither). Likewise according to Samaritan sources the high priests line of the sons of Phineas died out in 1624 with the death of the 112th High Priest Shlomyah ben Pinhas when the priesthood was transferred to the sons of Ithamar; see article Samaritan for list of high priests from 1613 to 2013-the 131st high priest of the Samaritans was Elazar ben Tsedaka ben Yitzhaq
Elazar ben Tsedaka ben Yitzhaq (Samaritan Hebrew: ''ʾElā̊ʿzår ban Ṣīdqåʿ ban Yēṣʿā̊q''; he, אלעזר בן צדקה בן יצחק; January 16, 1927 – February 3, 2010) was the Samaritan High Priest from 2004 until his dea ...
; the 132nd high priest was Aharon ben Ab-Chisda ben Yaacob
Aharon ben Ab-Chisda ben Yaacob (Samaritan Hebrew: ''Åʿrron ban Ab-Isdåʿ ban Yā̊ːqob'', he, אהרון בן אב-חסדה ''’Ahárōn ben ’Āv-Ḥasdā (ben Ya‘áqōv)'') also transliterated as Aaron b. Abhisda b. Jacob (February 1, ...
; the 133rd high priest is Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach
Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach (Samaritan Hebrew: ''ʾĀbədʾēl ban ʾĀ̊šər ban Maṣlīyaʾ''; born 1935 in Nablus, is the current Samaritan High Priest. He assumed office on April 19, 2013. According to Samaritan tradition, he is the 13 ...
.
Burial site
The burial site of Ithamar is associated with the '' Hill of Phinehas''[Joshua 24:33](_blank)
as related in the Bible and is attributed with the location of the village of Awarta in the Samarian section of the current day West Bank. Due to the uncertain security situation, the Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
limits visits by Jews to one annual night close to 5 Shevat
Shevat (Hebrew: שְׁבָט, Standard ''Šəvaṭ'', Tiberian ''Šeḇāṭ''; from Akkadian ''Šabātu'') is the fifth month of the civil year starting in Tishre (or Tishri) and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calend ...
on the Hebrew calendar (around January or February).
See also
* Levite
References
{{Authority control
Book of Exodus people
Jewish priests
Family of Aaron
Eli (biblical figure)