1 Chronicles 18:17

Read 2 Sam. 8:18.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

the Cherethites and the Pelethites--who formed the royal bodyguard. The Cherethites were, most probably, those brave men who all along accompanied David while among the Philistines, and from that people derived their name (Sa1 30:14; Eze 25:16; Zep 2:5) as well as their skill in archery--while the Pelethites were those who joined him at Ziklag, took their name from Pelet, the chief man in the company (Ch1 12:3), and, being Benjamites, were expert in the use of the sling.

Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 19

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 17. Cherethites and the Pelethites] 2Sa 8:18.

The Targum says, "Benaiah was over the great Sanhedrin and the small Sanhedrin, and consulted Urim and Thummim. And at his command the archers and slingers went to battle."

The sons of David] These were the highest in authority.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(17) Cherethites and the Pelethites.—2Sa_8:18. The royal body-guard, for which office Oriental kings have always employed foreign mercenaries. Josephus calls them the body-guard (Antiq. vii. 5, § 4). The names are tribal in form, and as the Cherethites recur (Eze_25:16; Zep_2:5) in connection with the Philistines (comp. 1Sa_30:14), and the name Pelethites resembles that of Philistines, it is natural to assumo that David’s guard was recruited from two Philistine tribes. (Comp. 2Sa_15:18, where the Cherethites and Pelethites are mentioned along with a corps of Gittites.) The Targum of Samuel, and Syriac and Arabic of Chronicles, render “archers and slingers.”

Chief about the king.—Heb., the first at the king’s hand, or side, a paraphrase of what we read in Samuel: “were chief rulers” (kôhãnîm). Kôhãnîm is the common and only word for “priests,” and has just occurred in that sense (1Ch_18:16). In 1Ki_4:5, as well as here, the term is said to denote not a sacerdotal, but a secular “minister.” But this theory seems to be opposed to the facts of history. Under the monarchy the priests were brought into close relations with the king, owing to their judicial duties; and the chief priest of a royal sanctuary became one of the great officials of state (Amo_7:11; Amo_7:13). Such a position would be of sufficient importance to be filled by the princes of the blood. The chronicler, writing from the point of view of a later age, has substituted for the original term a phrase that would not offend contemporary feeling. In Samuel the LXX. renders “chief courtiers;” the other versions have “magnates,” except the Vulg., which has “priests.” Syriac of Chronicles, “magnates.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17. Benaiah] Cp. 1Ch_11:22-25.

the Cherethites and the Pelethites] David’s bodyguard. The Cherethites were almost certainly Philistines (1Sa_30:14; Eze_25:16; Zep_2:5), the Pelethites were probably also Philistines (2Sa_15:18). Neither were heard of after the time of David unless the Carites of 2Ki_11:4 (R.V.) are the Cherethites. Foreign bodyguards are well-known in history.

chief about the king] Lit., the chief at the king’s hand, i.e. formed the executive to carry out his commands; cp. Neh_11:24. In 2Sa_8:18 (R.V.) David’s sons are described as priests. (Consult Baudissin, AT liches Priesterthum, p. 191.)

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

About. Literally, "at the hand of the king," to execute his orders, and to assist him. Septuagint, "vicegerents." Syriac, "princes." They are styled priests, 2 Kings viii. 18.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (see 1Ch_11:22-25; 2Sa_23:20-23) The Cherethites and the Pelethites. Two tribes of Philistines whom David attached. The meaning and derivation of these two names leave it possible to translate them at once, and to read, "the public executioners, and the public couriers," not treating them as proper names, and to this course Geseuius (see "Lexicon") gives his sanction. On the other hand, a comparison of 1Sa_30:14 and 2Sa_15:18 would lead us to treat them as the names of people, although the Pelethites are net as identifiable in this sense as the Cherethites and Gittites. Anyway, it is evident they were the special guard of the king, and were faithful to David and to Solomon after him. Their duties included those of the executioner or lictor, and the courier. They are frequently mentioned on special occasions of the king"s moving, and of danger (2Sa_15:18 2Sa_20:7, 2Sa_20:23; 1Ki_1:38, 1Ki_1:44) Chief about the king. The Hebrew text here is The word used in the parallel place is which signifies strictly "priests," but sometimes more generally" princes." This is, without doubt, the meaning of our text.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

over the Cherethites and the Pelethites The meaning is that they were nations, as it is written, (Zeph. 2:5): “Woe to... the nation of Cherethites,” and from their nations were mighty warriors with David, and Benaiah was over them. Another instance of this (II Sam. 15:18): “... and all his servants passed beside him, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites.”

and the sons of David were first at the king’s hand The meaning is that David’s sons were always first beside the king to perform all his necessities.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.