1 Kings 1:38 - Exposition

So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites [these were the royal bodyguard— σωματοφύλακες Josephus calls them—who were commanded by Benaiah ( 2 Samuel 8:18 ; 2 Samuel 15:18 ; 2 Samuel 20:23 ; 2 Samuel 23:28 ). But while their functions are pretty well understood, great difference of opinion exists as to the origin or meaning of the words. By some they are supposed to be Gentile names. A tribe of Cherethites is mentioned 1 Samuel 30:14 . (Cf. Ezekiel 25:16 ; Zephaniah 2:5 ) , and in close connexion with the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 30:16 ). Hence Cherethite has been thought to be another name for Philistine; and as the LXX . and Syr. render the word "Cretans," it has been conjectured that the Philistines had their origin from Crete. They did come from Caphtor, and that is probably Crete (see Genesis 10:14 ; Jeremiah 47:4 ; Amos 9:7 ; Deuteronomy 2:23 ). פְּלֵתִי again, is not unlike פְּלִשְּׁתִי In favor of this view is the fact that David certainly had a bodyguard of foreign mercenaries ( 2 Samuel 15:18 , where the "Gittites" are connected with the Cherethites). Nor does it make against it that "two designations" would thus "be employed side by side for one and the same people"—as if we should speak of Britons and Englishmen (Bähr). For the names look like a paronomasia— of which the Jews were very fond—and a trick of this kind would at once account for the tautology. [Since writing this, I find the same idea has already occurred to Ewald.] But the other view, adopted by Gesenius, is that the names are names of office and function. Cherethite he would derive from תָרַך , cut, slay; and by Cherethites he would understand "executioners," which the royal bodyguard were in ancient despotisms ( Genesis 39:1 , Hebrews; Daniel 2:14 , etc. See on 1 Kings 2:25 ). In the Pelethites ( פֶּלֶת , swiftness) he would see the public couriers ( ἄγγαροι ) of Eastern men. archies (see Herod. 8:98 and 2 Chronicles 30:6 ). We see the guard discharging the function first named in 2 Kings 10:25 ; 2 Kings 11:4 , 2 Kings 11:8 ; and the latter in 1 Kings 14:27 (marg.)] went down [ i.e; from the palace on Mount Zion] and caused Solomon to ride upon King David's mule, and brought him to [ עַל : cf. 1 Kings 2:26 ] Gihon [Chald; Syr; Arab; Shiloha ] .