Who were the Cherethites in the Bible?

 A mercenary group (2 Samuel 8:18, 15:18, 20:7; 1 Kings 1:38, 1:44; 1 Chronicles 18:17; Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5)

Cherethites were a mercenary group associated hired by King David. They are first mentioned in 2 Samuel 8:18. They are also called Carites in 2 Kings 11:4. Some scholars suggest that the Cherethites may have been from the region of Crete, based on the similarity between the Hebrew word Cherethi and the Greek word for Cretan. They were known for their loyalty and military prowess, serving as “special forces” for the kings of Israel.