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Encyclopedia entry

Ittai

Disambiguation

The source enumerates 2 distinct subjects under Ittai. Jump to one below, or read in order.

  1. 1.A Benjamite, one of David’s thirty heroes (2 Sam.
  2. 2.A native of Gath, a Philistine, who had apparently the command of the six hundred…

Near; timely; or, with the Lord.

  1. Ittai (1)

    #

    A Benjamite, one of David’s thirty heroes (2 Sam. 23:29).

  2. Ittai (2)

    #

    A native of Gath, a Philistine, who had apparently the command of the six hundred heroes who formed David’s band during his wanderings (2 Sam. 15:19-22; comp. 1 Sam. 23:13; 27:2; 30:9, 10). He is afterwards with David at Mahanaim, holding in the army equal rank with Joab and Abishai (2 Sam. 18:2, 5, 12). He then passes from view.

Also from Smith's (1884) +

(with the Lord).

“Ittai the Gittite,” i.e. the native of Gath, a Philistine in the army of King David. He appears only during the revolution of Absalom. (B.C. 1023.) We first discern him on the morning of David’s flight. The king urges him to return. (2 Samuel 15:18,19) Comp. 1Sam 23:13; 27:2; 30:9,10,19,20 But ittai is firm; he is the king’s slave, and wherever his master goes he will go. Accordingly he is allowed by David to proceed. When the army was numbered and organized by David at Mahanaim, Ittai again appears, now in command of a third part of the force. (2 Samuel 18:2,5,12) Son of Ribai, from Gibeah of Benjamin; one of the thirty heroes of David’s guard. (2 Samuel 23:29)

In the Bible

7

Verses where Ittai is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).

  • 2 Samuel 15:19

    Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

  • 2 Samuel 15:21

    But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”

  • 2 Samuel 15:22

    “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

  • 2 Samuel 18:2

    He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

  • 2 Samuel 18:5

    Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.

  • 2 Samuel 18:12

    The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. ’

+1 more verse naming Ittai.

Entries that reference Ittai

2

Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)

Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.