Cherethites כְּרֵתִי
Member of Philistine tribe serving as royal guard
Biography
The Cherethites, along with the Pelethites, were a group of Philistine warriors who served as loyal guards and soldiers for Israelite kings, particularly during the reigns of David and Solomon. They are mentioned multiple times in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.
During David's reign, the Cherethites and Pelethites were part of his royal bodyguard and army (2Sa.8.18; 15.18; 20.7, 23). They remained loyal to David during Absalom's rebellion (2Sa.15.18) and helped suppress the revolt led by Sheba (2Sa.20.7).
When Solomon ascended to the throne, the Cherethites and Pelethites supported him and played a role in securing his kingship against Adonijah's attempted coup (1Ki.1.38, 44). They continued to serve in the royal guard during Solomon's reign (1Ki.11.4; 2Ki.11.19).
The Cherethites' consistent loyalty and military support for the Davidic kings suggest that they were a trusted and elite group of warriors, likely drawn from the Philistine tribe of the same name.
In Scripture
4 biblical books2 Samuel 4 verses
- 2 Samuel 8:18
"Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers."
- 2 Samuel 15:18
"All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king."
- 2 Samuel 20:7
"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 Sheba the son of Bichri."
- 2 Samuel 20:23
"Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,"
1 Kings 2 verses
- 1 Kings 1:38
"So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon."
- 1 Kings 1:44
"The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 18:17
"and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king."
2 Kings 2 verses
- 2 Kings 11:4
"In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into Yahweh’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in Yahweh’s house, and showed them the king’s son."
- 2 Kings 11:19
"He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from Yahweh’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | כְּרֵתִי | H3774H |
| Group | Hebrew | כָּרִי | H3746 |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | כָּרִי | H3746 |