Jether

JETHER (jē'thêr, Heb. yether, abundance, excellence)

2. The eldest son of Gideon. Because of his youth, he was afraid to slay the prisoners Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian, and so Gideon killed them himself (Judg 8:20, 21).

3. An Ishmaelite; father of Amasa, commander of the army under Absalom when the latter rebelled against David (1 Kings 2:5, 32; 1 Chron 2:17); called Ithra in 2 Samuel 17:25).

4. A Jerahmeelite (1 Chron 2:32).

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

6. An Asherite (1 Chron 7:38); called Ithran in v. 37.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

(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.