Cherethim
Cherethim [1]
(Hebrews Kerethim ´, בְּרֵתַים, the regular plural of Cherethite), occurs in this form only in Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5, in the former of which passages it is rendered "Cherethims," and in the latter "Cherethites." The only other passage where the Cherethites are mentioned singly (although in a slightly different form in the original) is 1 Samuel 30:14. In all these passages they are expressly named as inhabitants of the southern Philistia, that is, Philistines. The Sept. and Syriac render the word in these places by Cretans; from which, and the passages in Amos 9:7; Jeremiah 47:4; Deuteronomy 2:23, the conjecture would be strong that the Philistines sprang from Crete, were it certain that Caphtor means Crete. (See Philistine); (See Caphtor). For the other passages in which the word occurs, (See Cherethite).
