Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 11:25

"Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three: and David set him over his guard." — 1 Chronicles 11:25 (ASV)

Behold, he was honourable among the thirty. —Rather, above the thirty behold he was honoured.

But attained not to the first three. —For he was a member of the second triad of heroes. The third member is omitted here, as in the case of the first triad.

Over his guard. —Literally, over his obedience; an abstract for concrete, as in Isaiah 11:14 (= vassals). The Cherethites and Pelethites, a small corps probably of foreigners, who constituted David’s body-guard, and were under his direct orders, appear to be meant here. (See 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23.) The word has this precise sense only in this place and its parallel.