Zephaniah 2:5

the sea coast Or, the region by the sea. The reference is to the strip of territory belonging to the Philistines; Ezekiel 25:16. The Cherethites are the Philistines, or at least those along the coast (1 Samuel 30:14). The word is supposed to have some relation to Crete, from which it is believed the Philistines migrated into Palestine. In Amos 9:7; Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4 the Philistines are said to have come from Caphtor, which may be Crete. In 2 Samuel 8:18 the Cherethites and Pelethites (Philistines?) appear as mercenaries among David's household troops. According to Joshua 13:3-4 the territory of the Philistines was reckoned to the Canaanites.