The Cherethites and Pelethites were people who lived among the Philistines and who, like the Philistines, probably came originally from Crete (1 Sam 30:14; Ezek 25:16; Zeph 2:5; see PHILISTIA). They were such good soldiers that David, upon conquering the Philistines, used them to form his personal bodyguard, under the command of the tough Benaiah (2 Sam 8:18; 20:23). They were fiercely loyal to David through the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba, and they supported David’s chosen successor, Solomon, when there was an attempted coup against him (2 Sam 15:18; 20:7; 1 Kings 1:38). There is no mention of them after the death of David.