אֶלְעָזָר

From the study of 1 Chronicles 24:1

Range of meaning

Personal name, 'God has helped' (El + ʿazar, 'help'). Paired here with Ithamar (Itamar, meaning uncertain).

Against the English

Rendered identically everywhere.

Used elsewhere in the period

Eleazar succeeds Aaron (Num 20:25–28), takes part in dividing up the land with Joshua (Num 34:17; Josh 14:1), and is the ancestor of Phinehas (Num 25:11–13, 'a covenant of perpetual priesthood') and of Zadok (1 Chr 6:3–8). Ithamar's line includes Eli and Abiathar (by inference from 1 Sam 14:3; 22:20 and 1 Chr 24:3), the house that lost its standing in 1 Kgs 2:27.

From the study of Exodus 6:23

Range of meaning

Eleazar: 'God has helped' (ʾēl + ʿāzar). Ithamar: uncertain. The suggestions are 'coast/land of palms' (BDB), 'where is Tamar?', or a form connected with tāmār 'palm tree'.

Against the English

No real difference in translation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Eleazar becomes high priest (Num 20:25–28) and helps divide the land (Josh 14:1). Ithamar oversees the Levites' tabernacle duties (Exod 38:21; Num 4:28, 33). In 1 Chr 24:1–6 the 24 priestly divisions are split between the Eleazar line (16) and the Ithamar line (8). Eli's house came from Ithamar, and Zadok's from Eleazar.