So called from Peleth, meaning judges. The Pelethites and Cherithites (or Cherim, more properly speaking) were much spoken of in the days of David. (1 Samuel 30:14 and 2 Samuel 8:18) It should seem to have been an office in the inferior courts for judging the people; hence the Pelethites and Cherithites were judges. The word Cherim means excommunication: and there were three degrees of it observed. The first was a simple separating, called Niddui; the second Cherim, somewhat like what the apostle calls Anathema Maranatha; and the third implied death, and was called Shammathah.