Cherethim
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [1]
כרתים . Cherethim or Cherethites, are denominations for the Philistines: "I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and will cut off the Cherethim, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast,"
Ezekiel 25:16 . Zephaniah, exclaiming against the Philistines, says, "Wo unto the inhabitants of the sea coasts, the nation of the Cherethites,"
Zephaniah 2:5 . It is said, 1 Samuel 30:14 , that the Amalekites invaded the south of the Cherethites; that is, of the Philistines. David, and some of the kings, his successors, had guards called Cherethites and Pelethites, 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7 . Calmet thinks that they were of the country of the Philistines; but several expositors of our own country are of a different opinion. "We can hardly suppose," say the latter, "that David would employ any of these uncircumcised people as his bodyguard, or that the Israelitish soldiers would have patiently seen foreigners of that nation advanced to such places of honour and trust." It may, therefore, be inferred that guards were called Cherethites, because they went with David into Philistia, where they continued with him all the time he was under the protection of Achish. These were the persons who accompanied David from the first, and who remained with him in his greatest distresses; and it is no wonder, if men of such approved fidelity should be chosen for his body-guard. Beside, it is not uncommon for soldiers to derive their names, not from the place of their nativity, but of their residence.
Easton's Bible Dictionary [2]
Ezekiel 25:16 Zephaniah 2:5 1 Samuel 30:14 2 Samuel 8:18 20:7,23 23:23 Genesis 37:36 1 Kings 2:25
Smith's Bible Dictionary [3]
Cher'ethim. (Axe-Men). Ezekiel 25:16. Same As Cherethites .
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
(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).
