THE FULL ARTICLE — from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), general editor James Orr — public domain, printed whole.

ith'-ra (yithra', "abundance"): The father of Amasa, commanding general in the rebel army of Absalom. It seems that his mother was Abigail, a sister or half-sister of King David (1Ch 2:17). She is called the sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother (2Sa 17:25). In this same passage Ithra is called an "Israelite," but in 1Ch 2:17; 1Ki 2:5,32, we read: "Jether the Ishmaelite."