GUARD BODY-GUARD.The former is used in EV [Note: English Version.] almost exclusively for the body-guard of royal and other high-placed personages, such as Nehemiah (Neh_4:22 f.) and Holofernes (Jdt_12:7). Body-guard occurs only 1Es_3:4 RV [Note: Revised Version.] of the guard (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ) of Darius. The members of the body-guard of the Pharaoh of Gen_37:35 and of Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki_25:8 etc.) are, in the original style, slaughterers (of animals for food), not as RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] executioners. Those composing the body-guard of the Hebrew kings, on the other hand, are styled runners (1Sa_22:17 RV [Note: Revised Version.] and marg., 2Ki_10:25; 2Ki_11:4 etc.), one of their duties being to run in front of the royal state-chariot (cf. 2Sa_15:1, 1Ki_1:5). In 1Ki_14:28 we hear of a guard-chamber. The office of the captain of the guard was at all times one of great dignity and responsibility. Davids body-guard consisted of foreign mercenaries, the Cherethites and Pelethites (see p. 122), commanded by Benaiah (2Sa_20:23 compared with 2Sa_23:23). The famous Prætorian guard of the Roman emperors is mentioned in Php_1:13 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ; also Act_28:16 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] in a passage absent from the best texts and RV [Note: Revised Version.] .
A. R. S. Kennedy.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909