2 Samuel 15:18

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

And all his servants {H5650} passed on {H5674} beside {H3027} him; and all the Cherethites {H3774}, and all the Pelethites {H6432}, and all the Gittites {H1663}, six {H8337} hundred {H3967} men {H376} which came {H935} after {H7272} him from Gath {H1661}, passed on {H5674} before {H6440} the king {H4428}.

for all his servants to pass by him in review; all the K'reti and P'leti and all the Gittim (600 men who had accompanied him from Gat) passed in review before the king.

and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

Commentary

2 Samuel 15:18 vividly describes a pivotal moment in King David's life: his hurried departure from Jerusalem as his son Absalom's rebellion gained momentum. This verse highlights the unwavering loyalty of David's personal guard and foreign contingents who chose to remain with him during this immense crisis.

Context

This verse is set during the dramatic beginning of Absalom's revolt against his father, King David. Absalom had meticulously cultivated popularity among the people, secretly undermining David's reign. When his conspiracy was uncovered, David was forced to flee Jerusalem to avoid direct conflict and bloodshed within the city (2 Samuel 15:14). Verse 18 paints a picture of the procession of loyalists who accompanied David, emphasizing the immediate danger and the king's desperate situation.

Key Themes

  • Loyalty Amidst Betrayal: The verse starkly contrasts Absalom's treachery with the steadfast devotion of David's personal servants and elite troops. While much of Israel was swayed by Absalom, these men remained faithful to their king in his hour of need.
  • David's Elite Guard: The "Cherethites" and "Pelethites" were David's highly trusted and professional personal bodyguards, often acting as his executioners and special forces. Their presence signifies the core of David's loyal military strength.
  • Foreign Allegiance: The "Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath," are particularly significant. Gath was a prominent Philistine city, enemies of Israel. That these foreign mercenaries, led by Ittai the Gittite (mentioned immediately after this verse), chose to follow David into exile speaks volumes about David's leadership and their personal commitment to him. Their loyalty was not based on national ties but on a deep personal bond or oath.

Linguistic and Historical Insights

The terms "Cherethites" (Kerethim) and "Pelethites" (Pelethim) refer to David's personal bodyguard, often thought to be foreign mercenaries, possibly from Crete or Philistia, who served as his standing army. They are consistently mentioned together throughout David's reign, indicating their integral role in his security and authority. The "Gittites" were men from Gath, a Philistine city. The "six hundred men" strongly suggests a specific unit, likely the contingent brought by Ittai from Gath who had joined David's service earlier, perhaps during David's time as a fugitive from Saul (1 Samuel 27:2). Their presence underscores David's unique ability to inspire loyalty even from those outside the covenant community of Israel.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights into leadership and faithfulness. It reminds us that in times of crisis, true loyalty is revealed. David, despite facing betrayal from his own son, was not abandoned by all. The steadfastness of his foreign guard highlights that genuine commitment can transcend cultural or national boundaries. For believers, it can serve as a reminder of the importance of surrounding ourselves with faithful companions and of God's provision of support even in the darkest valleys, often from unexpected sources, much like the Gittites' loyalty to David.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 8:18

    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

  • 1 Samuel 30:14

    We made an invasion [upon] the south of the Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

  • 1 Kings 1:38

    So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:17

    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David [were] chief about the king.

  • 2 Samuel 20:23

    ¶ Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

  • 2 Samuel 20:7

    And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

  • 2 Samuel 15:19

    Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.
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