1 Chronicles 18:17
New International Version
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

New Living Translation
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as the king’s chief assistants.

English Standard Version
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.

Berean Standard Bible
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

King James Bible
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

New King James Version
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers at the king’s side.

New American Standard Bible
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

NASB 1995
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

NASB 1977
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

Legacy Standard Bible
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

Amplified Bible
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Cherethites and the Pelethites [David’s bodyguards], and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

Christian Standard Bible
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials at the king’s side.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials at the king’s side.

American Standard Version
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

Contemporary English Version
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of David's bodyguard. David's sons were his highest-ranking officials.

English Revised Version
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jehoiada's son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David's sons were his main officials.

Good News Translation
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of David's bodyguards; and King David's sons held high positions in his service.

International Standard Version
Jehoiada's son Benaiah supervised the special forces and mercenaries, while David's sons worked as chief officials in service to the king.

Majority Standard Bible
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

NET Bible
Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were the king's leading officials.

New Heart English Bible
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

World English Bible
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Benaiah son of Jehoiada [is] over the Cherethite and the Pelethite, and the chief sons of David [are] at the hand of the king.

Young's Literal Translation
and Benaiah son of Jehoiada is over the Cherethite and the Pelethite, and the elder sons of David are at the hand of the king.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David, heads at the hand of the king.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Banaias the son of Joiada was over the bands of the Cerethi, and the Phelethi: and the sons of David were chief about the king.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Also, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the legions of the Cherethites and Pelethites. But the sons of David were first at the hand of the king.

New American Bible
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief assistants to the king.

New Revised Standard Version
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah was over the archers and the slingers; and the sons of David were princes of the realm.And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel and came against them, and set the battle in array against the Arameans and fought with them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Benaya, son of Yuyada, was over the Archers and over the Slingers, and the sons of David were Princes.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and Beniah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and Banaeas the son of Jodae was over the Cherethite and the Phelethite, and the sons of David were the chief deputies of the king.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Officers
16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe; 17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

Cross References
2 Samuel 8:18
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders.

1 Kings 1:38-40
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. / Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!” / All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

2 Samuel 20:23-26
Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; / Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; / Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ...

1 Kings 4:1-6
So King Solomon ruled over Israel, / and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; / Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; ...

2 Samuel 23:8-39
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. ...

1 Chronicles 11:10-47
Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. / This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. ...

1 Kings 2:35
And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

1 Chronicles 27:1-34
This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: / Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. / He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month. ...

2 Samuel 15:18
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

1 Kings 1:8
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:32-35
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. / “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ...

2 Samuel 23:20-23
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. / He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. / These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men. ...

1 Chronicles 12:1-22
Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle; / they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin): / Ahiezer their chief and Joash, who were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; ...

1 Chronicles 12:38-40
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king. / They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. / And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

1 Chronicles 15:25-29
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. / And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. / Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

Benaiah

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.

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.

2 Samuel 20:7,23
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…

Cherethites

Zephaniah 2:5
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

1 Chronicles 23:28
Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

Jump to Previous
Benaiah Benai'ah Beniah Cherethite Cherethites Cher'ethites Chief Chiefs David David's Elder First Hand Jehoiada Jehoi'ada Kerethites King's Officials Pelethite Pelethites Pel'ethites Places Service Side
Jump to Next
Benaiah Benai'ah Beniah Cherethite Cherethites Cher'ethites Chief Chiefs David David's Elder First Hand Jehoiada Jehoi'ada Kerethites King's Officials Pelethite Pelethites Pel'ethites Places Service Side
1 Chronicles 18
1. David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites
3. He smites Hadarezer and the Syrians
9. Tou sends Hadoram with presents to bless David
11. The presents and the spoil David dedicates to God
13. He put garrisons in Edom
14. David's officers














Benaiah son of Jehoiada
Benaiah, whose name means "Yahweh has built," was a distinguished warrior and leader in King David's army. The son of Jehoiada, a priest, Benaiah's lineage suggests a blend of spiritual and martial prowess. His role in David's administration highlights the importance of having leaders who are both spiritually grounded and capable in military matters. Historically, Benaiah's exploits, such as his victory over two Moabite warriors and a lion, are celebrated in the scriptures, emphasizing his valor and loyalty to David.

was over the Kerethites and Pelethites
The Kerethites and Pelethites were elite groups of foreign mercenaries who served as David's personal bodyguards. The term "Kerethites" is often associated with the Cretans, while "Pelethites" might refer to Philistines or another group of sea peoples. These groups were known for their loyalty and skill in battle, and their presence in David's court underscores the king's strategic alliances and the diverse makeup of his forces. Benaiah's leadership over these groups indicates his trusted position and the importance of having a reliable and formidable personal guard.

David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side
This phrase highlights the familial aspect of David's administration, where his sons held significant positions of authority. In the ancient Near Eastern context, it was common for kings to appoint family members to key roles to ensure loyalty and continuity of governance. This practice also reflects the biblical theme of dynastic succession and the importance of family in leadership. David's sons serving as chief officials signifies the trust and responsibility placed upon them, as well as the expectation to uphold the values and legacy of their father.

(17) Cherethites and the Pelethites.--2Samuel 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 (Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5) in connection with the Philistines (comp. 1Samuel 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. 2Samuel 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" (koh?nim). Koh?nim is the common and only word for "priests," and has just occurred in that sense (1Chronicles 18:16). In 1Kings 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 (Amos 7:11; Amos 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." . . .

Verse 17. - Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (see 1 Chronicles 11:22-25; 1 Chronicles 12:27; 2 Samuel 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 1 Samuel 30:14 and 2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7, 23; 1 Kings 1:38, 44). Chief about the king. The Hebrew text here is הָרִאשֹׁגִים. The word used in the parallel place is כֹּחֲנִים, which signifies strictly "priests," but sometimes more generally" princes." This is, without doubt, the meaning of our text.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Benaiah
וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙ (ū·ḇə·nā·yā·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1141: Benaiah -- 'Yah has built up', the name of several Israelites

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Jehoiada
יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע (yə·hō·w·yā·ḏā‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3077: Jehoiada -- 'the LORD knows', the name of several Israelites

was over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Kerethites
הַכְּרֵתִ֖י (hak·kə·rê·ṯî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3774: Cherethites -- the foreign bodyguard of King David

and Pelethites;
וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י (wə·hap·pə·lê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6432: A courier, official messenger

and David’s
דָוִ֥יד (ḏā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

sons
וּבְנֵי־ (ū·ḇə·nê-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

were chief officials
הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים (hā·ri·šō·nîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

at the king’s
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

side.
לְיַ֥ד (lə·yaḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 18:17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 18:16
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