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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Cherethite</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/c/cherethite.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/1_samuel/30-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/c/cherethite.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Cherethite</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/c/cherethims.htm" title="Cherethims">◄</a> Cherethite <a href="/topical/c/cherethites.htm" title="Cherethites">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The term "Cherethite" refers to a group of people mentioned in the Old Testament, often associated with the Philistines and serving as part of King David's elite military forces. The Cherethites are frequently mentioned alongside the Pelethites, another group that formed David's personal guard. The origin and identity of the Cherethites have been subjects of scholarly discussion, with some suggesting a connection to the island of Crete, while others propose a more localized origin within the Philistine territories.<br><br><b>Biblical References</b><br><br>The Cherethites are first mentioned in the context of David's reign. In <a href="/1_samuel/30-14.htm">1 Samuel 30:14</a>, the Cherethites are identified as inhabitants of the Negev, a desert region in southern Judah: "We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag." This passage suggests that the Cherethites were a distinct group within the broader Philistine confederation.<br><br>In <a href="/2_samuel/8-18.htm">2 Samuel 8:18</a>, the Cherethites are listed as part of David's administration: "Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests." This indicates that the Cherethites held a significant role in the military hierarchy of Israel under David's rule. Similarly, <a href="/2_samuel/20-23.htm">2 Samuel 20:23</a> states, "Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites."<br><br>The Cherethites are also mentioned in the context of Absalom's rebellion. In <a href="/2_samuel/15-18.htm">2 Samuel 15:18</a>, as David flees Jerusalem, the Cherethites are noted as part of his loyal retinue: "All his men marched past him, along with all the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath."<br><br><b>Role and Function</b><br><br>The Cherethites, along with the Pelethites, served as David's personal bodyguards and were likely mercenaries or foreign soldiers who had pledged their loyalty to him. Their presence in David's army underscores the king's reliance on a diverse and skilled military force. The Cherethites' role as elite troops is further emphasized by their repeated mention in contexts of military and royal protection.<br><br><b>Cultural and Historical Context</b><br><br>The association of the Cherethites with the Philistines is significant, as the Philistines were one of Israel's primary adversaries during the period of the Judges and the early monarchy. The potential link between the Cherethites and Crete is suggested by the similarity of the names "Cherethite" and "Cretan," as well as by historical records indicating that the Philistines may have had Aegean origins. However, the exact nature of this connection remains speculative.<br><br><b>Theological Significance</b><br><br>From a theological perspective, the inclusion of the Cherethites in David's forces highlights the theme of God's sovereignty in using diverse peoples to accomplish His purposes. Despite their foreign origin, the Cherethites were integrated into the life of Israel and played a crucial role in the establishment and security of David's kingdom. This reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's plan extending beyond ethnic and national boundaries.<br><br>In summary, the Cherethites were a significant group within the military structure of ancient Israel, serving as part of King David's elite guard. Their presence in the biblical narrative underscores themes of loyalty, diversity, and the fulfillment of God's purposes through unexpected means.<a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_6/chapter_iiithe_hebrews_and_the.htm"><span class="l">The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus</span></a> <br>History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/c/cherethite.htm"><span class="l"><b>Cherethite</b> (8 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Cherethite</b> (8 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 30:14 We<br> made a raid on the South of the Cherethites, and on that <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/c/cherethite.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/c/cherethites.htm"><span class="l">Cherethites (11 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/c/cherethites.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/pushed.htm"><span class="l">Pushed (28 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1 Samuel 30:14 we pushed 'to' the south of the <b>Cherethite</b>, and against that which<br> 'is' to Judah, and against the south of Caleb, and Ziklag we burned with fire <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/pushed.htm - 15k</font><p><a href="/topical/c/cherethims.htm"><span class="l">Cherethims (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/c/cherethims.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/elder.htm"><span class="l">Elder (34 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1 Chronicles 18:17 and Benaiah son of Jehoiada 'is' over the <b>Cherethite</b> and the<br> Pelethite, and the elder sons of David 'are' at the hand of the king. (YLT). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/elder.htm - 27k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Cherethite (8 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/30-14.htm">1 Samuel 30:14</a></span><br />We made a raid on the South of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire."<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_samuel/8-18.htm">2 Samuel 8:18</a></span><br />and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers. <br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_samuel/15-18.htm">2 Samuel 15:18</a></span><br />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.<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_samuel/20-7.htm">2 Samuel 20:7</a></span><br />There went out after him Joab's men, 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.<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_samuel/20-23.htm">2 Samuel 20:23</a></span><br />Now Joab was over all the army of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites; <br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_kings/1-38.htm">1 Kings 1:38</a></span><br />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 on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_kings/1-44.htm">1 Kings 1:44</a></span><br />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.<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_chronicles/18-17.htm">1 Chronicles 18:17</a></span><br />and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king. <br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/c/cherethite.htm">Cherethite</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cher'ethites.htm">Cher'ethites (10 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cherethite.htm">Cherethite (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pelethites.htm">Pelethites (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kerethites.htm">Kerethites (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pelethite.htm">Pelethite (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pel'ethites.htm">Pel'ethites (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jehoi'ada.htm">Jehoi'ada (50 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/benai'ah.htm">Benai'ah (43 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/benaiah.htm">Benaiah (44 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/caphtor.htm">Caphtor (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/caphtorim.htm">Caphtorim (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cherethim.htm">Cherethim (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sea-coast.htm">Sea-coast (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/ride.htm">Ride (31 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/mule.htm">Mule (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jehoiada.htm">Jehoiada (51 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/marched.htm">Marched (51 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/crete.htm">Crete (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/coast.htm">Coast (70 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/army.htm">Army (401 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/negeb.htm">Negeb (37 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/negev.htm">Negev (39 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nathan.htm">Nathan (42 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jo'ab.htm">Jo'ab (120 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/david's.htm">David's (142 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/z/ziklag.htm">Ziklag (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kerethite.htm">Kerethite (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/judah's.htm">Judah's (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/joab's.htm">Joab's (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/gittites.htm">Gittites (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/warriors.htm">Warriors (75 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/ittai.htm">Ittai (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/invasion.htm">Invasion (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fighting-men.htm">Fighting-men (30 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/raid.htm">Raid (15 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/escorted.htm">Escorted (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/ministers.htm">Ministers (49 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/proselyte.htm">Proselyte (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/belongeth.htm">Belongeth (36 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/beniah.htm">Beniah (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bicri.htm">Bicri (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bichri.htm">Bichri (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/carites.htm">Carites (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/advisers.htm">Advisers (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a 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