Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

CHERETHITES

(Heb. kĕrēṯî, kĕrēṯîm)

A mercenary group along with the Pelethites who served as David’s bodyguards. David most likely encountered these warrior guilds when he “lived in the country of the Philistines” (1 Sam. 27:11). Although it is generally agreed that the Cherethites were of Aegean origin and lived on the Mediterranean coast SE of Philistia, there is not enough evidence to prove conclusively their exact derivation. They possibly had been settled earlier by the Egyptians as Cretan mercenaries (cf. LXX Ezek. 25:16; Gk. Krḗtes) to be a northern buffer-outpost. Ezek. 25:16; Zeph. 2:5 hold the Cherethites and Philistines in parallel and, along with 1 Sam. 30:14, are the only references where the Cherethites are not listed in compound with the Pelethites.

The Cherethites are listed in both of David’s administrative lists (2 Sam. 8:18; 20:23) under the leadership of Benaiah. Benaiah is also listed as the general of Solomon’s army in the list of 1 Kgs. 4:2-6, and there is no separate reference for the Cherethites and Pelethites. These fighters owed their utmost allegiance to David and followed him in retreat out of Jerusalem during the revolt of Absalom (2 Sam. 15:18) and were instrumental in putting down the revolt of Sheba (20:7).

Bruce W. Gentry

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

CHERETHITES

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)