A military group in the Old Testament
The Cherethites were a Philistine tribe that served as royal guards for Israelite kings.
🗺 Places mentioned alongside Cherethites on the map →
Also known as Cherethite · Kerethite · Carite · captains · Carian
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.
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9 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3774
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and Davidʼs sons were priestly leaders.
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
So Joabʼs men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.
Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King Davidʼs mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the kingʼs mule.
Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the kingʼs son
He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne,
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and Davidʼs sons were chief officials at the kingʼs side.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.