who cut or tear away
(same as Cherethites)
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Cherethims or Cherethites. David's body guard, along with the Pelethites. (See PELETHITES.) (2Sa_8:18; 2Sa_15:18; 2Sa_20:7; 2Sa_20:23; 1Ki_1:38; 1Ki_1:44; 1Ch_18:17). Saul had "footmen" (runners) as his guard (1Sa_22:17); so Rehoboam (1Ki_14:27-28). Couriers afterward took their place. The Cherethites and Pelethites were called out from attending the king's person only on extraordinary emergencies, as the rebellion of Sheba (2Sa_20:6-7). Benaiah was their commander (2Sa_23:23). The name is a national name; a tribe of the Philistines (1Sa_30:14; compare 1Sa_30:16; Eze_25:16; Zep_2:5).
Crete seems a kindred name to Cherethites; it was famed for archery, as were they; for which David chose a number of them as his body guard. Some of them probably joined him during his sojourn among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27; 29). Others he may have afterward enrolled on his conquest of the Philistines (2Sa_8:1). Some of the Philistine Cherethites probably colonized Crete originally, while others remained in Philistia, where they had migrated from Africa. Gittites of the Philistine Gath, to the number of 600, under Ittai, similarly followed David (2Sa_15:18-19). The name Pelethites may be another form of Philistines, or possibly be from Peleetim, (political) "refugees" from Philistia. Ewald supports the former. It is probably an ethnic name, as Cherethim. (See CAPHTOR.)
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.