Dictionary

Jether

Easton's Dictionary

Surplus; excellence. (1.) Father-in-law of Moses (Ex. 4:18 marg.), called elsewhere Jethro (q.v.).

(2.) The oldest of Gideon’s seventy sons (Judg. 8:20).

(3.) The father of Amasa, David’s general (1 Kings 2:5, 32); called Ithra (2 Sam. 17:25).

(4.) 1 Chr. 7:38.

(5.) 1 Chr. 2:32; one of Judah’s posterity.

(6.) 1 Chr. 4:17.

Smith's Dictionary

(his excellence).

Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. (Exodus 4:18) (B.C. 1530.) The first-born of Gideon’s seventy sons. (Judges 8:20) (B.C. 1256.) The father of Amasa, captain-general of Absalom’s army. (B.C. 1023.) Jether is another form of Ithra. (2 Samuel 17:25) He is described in (1 Chronicles 2:17) as an Ishmaelite, which again is more likely to be correct than the “Israelite” of the Hebrew in (2 Samuel 17:1) ... The son of Jada, a descendant of Hezron, of the tribe of Judah. (1 Chronicles 2:32) The son of Ezra. (1 Chronicles 2:32) The chief of a family of warriors of the line of Asher, and father of Jephunneh. (1 Chronicles 7:38) He is probably the same as Ithran in the preceding verse.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

je'-ther (yether, "abundance"):

(1) Ex 4:18 the Revised Version margin, King James Version, margin.

See JETHRO.

(2) Gideon's eldest son (Jud 8:20), who was called upon by his father to slay Zebah and Zalmunnah, but "feared, because he was yet a youth." The narrative there (Jud 8:4) should be connected with that of Jud 6:34, where Gideon is followed by his clan, and not with that of Jud 7, where he has 300 picked men. The captives would be taken to Orpah, Gideon's home, and slain there.

(3) Father of Amasa (1Ki 2:5,32); he was an Ishmaelite according to 1Ch 2:17 = "Ithra, the Israelite" of 2Sa 17:25, where "the Ishmaelite" should be read for "the Israelite."

(4) A Jerahmeelite (1Ch 2:32 twice).

(5) A Judahite (1Ch 4:17).

(6) A man of Asher (1Ch 7:38) = "Ithran" of 1Ch 7:37.

David Francis Roberts