What are the…
Cherethim

also known as: Cherethites or Kerethites

Hebrew: כְּרֵתִי

The Cherethim are people mentioned in Ezek. 25:16 and more frequently called Cherethites. They were the inhabitants of Southern Philistia, the Philistines (Zeph. 2:5).

The Cherethites and the Pelethites were David’s bodyguards. David employed them as elite mercenaries, some of whom acted as his bodyguards, and others as part of his army (1 Samuel 30:14; 2 Samuel 8:18; 20:7, 23; 23:23).

Cherethites and Pelethites are mentioned together in the following verses:

• 2 Samuel 8:18
• 2 Samuel 15:18
• 2 Samuel 20:7
• 2 Samuel 20:23
• 1 Kings 1:38
• 1 Kings 1:44
• 1 Chronicles 18:17

The Cherethites are mentioned independently of the Pelethites in:

• 1 Samuel 30:14
• Zephaniah 2:5
• Ezekiel 25:16

There is a possibility that the Carites mentioned in 2 Kings 11:4; 11:19) were identical to the Cherethites, the former term being a linguistic corruption of the latter. If this is the case, then it would appear that these mercenaries were still used by the Israelites in the time of Athaliah.[

In the Septuagint this name is interpreted as meaning “Cretans” (someone from the island of Crete). This is apparently based on an ancient tradition that the Philistines came from Crete.

Others called the Cherethim “executioners,” who were ready to execute the king’s sentence of death (Genesis 37:36, marginal note; 1 Kings 2:25).