Krethi and Plethi

Krethi and Plethi (also Kreter and Pleter , Kereter and Peleter ) designates in the Old Testament in 2 Samuel a part of the armed forces of King David consisting of foreigners . Kreter and Pleter under their leader Benaja formed the bodyguard of King David. In a figurative sense, the term “all kinds of people” means.

etymology

The meaning of the two names Kereter and Peleter ( Hebrew הַכְּרֵתִי וְהַפְּלֵתִי hakkəretî wəhappəletî ) is unclear. In three places ( 1 Sam 30.16 EU , Ez 25.16 EU , Zef 2.5 EU ) the names appear in connection with the Philistines , so it is possible that the term “Peleter” is either a synonym for "Philistines", or with it a group within the Philistines is designated. The name "Kereter" could refer to the island of Crete .

The Septuagint gives the names as ὁ χελεθθι and ὁ φελεττι ho cheleththi and ho pheletti , the Vulgate as Cherethi and Felethi .

In rabbinical literature

The Babylonian Talmud asks about the meaning of the names Kreter and Pleter:

"It spoke Rab Josef : What is written? “Ahithophel was followed by Benaiah son of Jehoiada and Abiatar. Joab was the king's army commander. ”( 1 Chr 27.34 EU ):“ Ahitofel ”- that is the adviser, because it says:“ Advice given by Ahitofel was in those days as much as if one had asked for a word of God . ”( 2 Sam 16.23 EU )“ Benaja, the son of Jehoiada ”- that is the Sanhedrin and“ Ebjatar ”- that is the Urim and Thummim . He also said: “Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was the commander of the Kereter and Peleter.” ( 2 Sam 20.23 EU ) And why were they called Kereter and Peleter? Kereter - because they cut their words, Peleter - because they are distinguished by their words. And then "Joab, the king's army leader."

- Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, Chapter 1, pages 3b – 4a / Tractate Sanhedrin, Chapter 1, pages 16a – b

From 1 Chr 27.34 EU the statement derives in which order a war resolution should be proceeded. First of all, Ahitofel's advice is to be obtained, then the Sanhedrin (equated with Benaja, the son of Jehoiada) to be consulted, then the drawing of lots by the Urim and Thummim (embodied by the priest Ebjatar), only then is the order given to the general. Just as an analogy is formed between Benaja, the son of Jehoiada, and the Sanhedrin, so also between the Keretern and Peletern and the members of the Sanhedrin. In this context, questions are asked about the meaning of the names Kereter and Peleter. The members of the Sanhedrin would K e r e t er (הַכְּרֵתִי ha kk ə r e t î ) because they cut their words (שֶׁכֹּורְתִּים דִּבְרֵיהֶם šæ k ô rt îm divrêhæm ), that is, to carefully consider what they say in the course of the negotiation; they would p e l eter (הַפְּלֵתִי ha pp ə l etî ) because they are excellent or wonderful in their wordsשֶׁמוּפְלָאִים בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם šæmû fl ā'îm bədivrêhæm be.

Today's meaning

Today the term is used in a figurative sense for "all kinds of people" or, more disparagingly, "all kinds of rabble", similar to Hinz and Kunz .

Literary title

Krethi and Plethi are also called

a poem by Kurt Tucholsky
a Berlin local posse by David Kalisch (handwritten 1865)

literature

Article Krethi and Plethi in the Allgemeine Encyclopädie der Wissenschaften und Künste , Volume 2, Section 2, H – N , Part 39: Köppen (Peter V.) - Kriegk , Leipzig 1886, pp. 340–342.
Christina Duncker: Kreter and Pleter. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (Eds.): The Scientific Biblical Lexicon on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff.

Web links

Wiktionary: Krethi und Plethi - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

↑ 2 Sam 8.18 EU , 15.18 EU , 20.7 EU , 20.23 EU , 1 Chr 18.17 EU .
↑ 2 Sam 23.23 EU .
↑ In the Talmud the names of father and son are interchanged, in the Bible it always says "Jehoiada, son of Benaiah".
↑ Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Brachot, Chapter 1, Page 4a , at sefaria.org.il (Hebrew and English).
↑ Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin, Chapter 1, pp. 16a – b , at sefaria.org.il (Hebrew and English).
↑ Entry at phraseo.de .
↑ Entry at nextz.de .
↑ Berliner Tageblatt, September 23, 1918, No. 487 .
↑ David Kalisch: Krethi and Plethi. A Berlin local posse. (Findings. Editions on literary and cultural history 8), ed. by Heidrun Kerstein, Frankfurt am Main 1989.

[1] 2 Sam 8.18 EU , 15.18 EU , 20.7 EU , 20.23 EU , 1 Chr 18.17 EU .

[2] 2 Sam 23.23 EU .

[3] In the Talmud the names of father and son are interchanged, in the Bible it always says "Jehoiada, son of Benaiah".

[4] Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Brachot, Chapter 1, Page 4a , at sefaria.org.il (Hebrew and English).

[5] Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin, Chapter 1, pp. 16a – b , at sefaria.org.il (Hebrew and English).

[6] Entry at phraseo.de .

[7] Entry at nextz.de .

[8] Berliner Tageblatt, September 23, 1918, No. 487 .

[9] David Kalisch: Krethi and Plethi. A Berlin local posse. (Findings. Editions on literary and cultural history 8), ed. by Heidrun Kerstein, Frankfurt am Main 1989.