judges; destroyers
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
PELETHITES.See Cherethites and Pelethites.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
(See CHERETHITES.) The two together formed David's body guard. As Ittai of Gath, so other refugees from Philistine tribes probably joined David. The Egyptian monuments mention Shayretana ("Cherethim" or "Cretans") and Pelesatu ("Philistines"), whom Rameses III conquered. The Shayretana supplied mercenaries to the Egyptian kings of the 19th and 20th dynasties. Cherethites may be from chaarat "to cut off," namely, from one's country; Pelethites from paalat "he fled," "fugitives," political refugees. "Philistine" is from phalash "to emigrate." Gesenius less probably explains" executioners and runners."
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.
pel?ḗ-thı̄ts, pē?leth-ı̄ts (פּלתי, pelēthı̄): A company of David's bodyguard, like the CHERETHITES (which see) (2Sa_8:18; 2Sa_15:18); probably a corrupt form of ?Philistines.?
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.