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,”
Ezek. xxv, 16. Zephaniah, exclaiming against the Philistines, says, “Wo
unto the inhabitants of the sea coasts, the nation of the Cherethites,”
Zeph. ii, 5. It is said, 1 Sam. xxx, 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 Sam. xv, 18; xx, 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
body-guard, 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.
Philistines: “I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and
will cut off the Cherethim, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast,”
Ezek. xxv, 16. Zephaniah, exclaiming against the Philistines, says, “Wo
unto the inhabitants of the sea coasts, the nation of the Cherethites,”
Zeph. ii, 5. It is said, 1 Sam. xxx, 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 Sam. xv, 18; xx, 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
body-guard, 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.