ITUREA, a province of Syria or Arabia, beyond Jordan to the east of the Batanea, and south of Trachonitis. S. Luke iii. 1. speaks of Iturea, and 1 Chron. v. 19. of the Itureans, or of Jethur according to the Hebrew. Now Jethur was one Gen. xxv. 15. and 1 Chr. i. 31.of the Sons of Ishmael. Iturea is included in Arabia Petrea.
Aristobulus, King or Prince of the Jews, and son of Hircanus, as soon as he began to Joseph. Antiq. l. xiii. c. 19.reign made war with the Itureans; and after he had subdued the greatest part of them, obliged them to embrace Judaism, as Hircanus his father had in like manner some years before obliged the Idumæans; he gave them their choice, either to be circumcised, and embrace the Jewish religion, or to leave the country, and seek elsewhere for a settlement. They chose rather to stay and do what he required of them. They therefore, tho descended from Ishmael, had not continued the practice of circumcision; or perhaps Aristobulus might compel them to receive it on the eighth day, whereas before they might not receive it till the age of twelve or thirteen. Philip one of Herod’s sons was Tetrarch or Prince of Iturea, when S. John Baptist entred upon the functions of his ministry. Luke iii. 1.