Reference: Cherethites and Pelethites
Hastings
These were mercenary soldiers, who probably began to attach themselves to David whilst he was an outlaw (2Sa 22:2 etc.), and subsequently became the king's bodyguard and the nucleus of his army (2Sa 8:18; 15:18; 20:7,23; 1Ki 1:38,44; 1Ch 18:17). Benaiah, whom Josephus calls 'captain of the guard' (Ant. VII. xi. 8), was their commander. They accompanied David in his retreat from Jerusalem (2Sa 15:18), fought against Absalom (2Sa 20:7,23), acted as Solomon's bodyguard at his coronation (1Ki 1:38,44). The Cherethites were a Philistine clan (1Sa 30:14), dwelling on the coast (Eze 25:16; Zep 2:5); and the name Pelethites may have been a corrupt form of Philistines. Unwillingness to believe that foreigners stood so near the national hero led certain Jewish scholars to assert that the two clans were Israelites. The appellation 'Cherethite' seems to be connected with Crete, and there is good ground (but see Caphtor) for the belief that Caphtor, from which Am 9:7 says the Philistines came, is to be identified with Crete. The Septuagint of Eze 25:16; Zep 2:5 uses Cretans as the equivalent of Cherethites.
J. Taylor.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
We made an invasion upon towards the Negev from the Chereth and upon Judah and towards the Negev from Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.
and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were priests.
And all his slaves passed to his side, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had come on foot with him from Gath, went before the king.
And all his slaves passed to his side, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had come on foot with him from Gath, went before the king.
Then Joab's men went out after him, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba, the son of Bichri.
Then Joab's men went out after him, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba, the son of Bichri.
So Joab remained over all the host of Israel, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;
So Joab remained over all the host of Israel, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;
And he said, The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
So Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon King David's mule and brought him to Gihon.
And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule;
therefore thus hath the Lord GOD said; Behold, I stretch out my hand upon the Palestinians, and I will cut off the Cherethims and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
therefore thus hath the Lord GOD said; Behold, I stretch out my hand upon the Palestinians, and I will cut off the Cherethims and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
O sons of Israel, Are ye not as sons of the Ethiopians unto me, said the LORD? Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Palestinians from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the people of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Palestinians, I will cause thee to be destroyed until there shall be no inhabitant left.
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the people of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Palestinians, I will cause thee to be destroyed until there shall be no inhabitant left.