[Ĭt'ta ī] - plowman or living.

The Gittite leader who, with six hundred Philistines, attached himself to David at the outbreak of Absalom’s rebellion. This inhabitant of Gath was determined to follow David in all his trials. How admirable was the affirmation of his loyalty to the fugitive king: “As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be” (2 Sam. 15:21: -²¹ But Ittai replied to 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.”). Although a stranger and not of Israel, Ittai was more faithful than many who were Israelites by birth. His fidelity brought him a position of great trust (2 Sam. 18:2: – ² David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”).

A Benjamite, son of Ribai, who was one of David’s heroes (2 Sam. 23:29: -²⁹ Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin). He is called Ithai in 1 Chronicles 11:31: – ³¹ Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite.