Did You Know? /Why Did Foreigners Serve in King David's Army

 AMONG the foreign warriors in David's army were such men as Zelek, the Ammonite, Uriah the Hittite, and Ithmah the Moabite. (1 Chronicles 11:39, 41, 46) David's forces also included "the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites." (2 Samuel 15:18) The Cherethites and the Pelethites were generally thought to be closely related to the Philistines. (Ezekiel25:16) The Gittites originated from the Philistine city of Gath. - JOSHUA 13:2, 3; 1 SAMUEL 6:17. 18. 

Why could David enlist foreigners in his army? He was confident that they were loyal to him and, more important, to Jehovah. For example, regarding the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible says:  "They remained loyal to David in the most difficult circumstances during his reign." How so? When "all the men of Israel deserted King David to follow a troublemaker named Sheba," the Cherethites  and the Pelethites stayed true to David and helped him to suppress Sheba's rebellion. (2 Samuel 20:1, 2, 7) On another occasion, King David's son Adonijah attempted to unsurp the throne. However, the Cherethites  and the Pelethites remained loyal to David and helped to install Solomon, the one whom Jehovah had chosen, as the king's successor. - 1 KINGS 1:24-27, 38, 39. 

Next time: Did You Know? / Why Did Foreigners Serve in King David's Army?  - Conclusion

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