Who were the Cherethites in the Bible?
A military group in the Old Testament
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. Cherethites appears in 4 verses across 2 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about the Cherethites?
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.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Cherethites appear in the Bible?
Cherethites is referenced in 4 verses across 2 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 18:17
- 2 Samuel 8:18
- 2 Samuel 15:18
- 2 Samuel 20:7
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Cherethites.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Cherethites?
Cherethites appears in 4 verses across 2 books, most often in 2 Samuel, which accounts for 3 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Cherethites?
2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles.
Where can I read every verse about Cherethites?
This page lists 4 of them. Protos carries all 4, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
