Bodyguard

BODYGUARD bod’ i gärd (רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים). The term bodyguard suggests both the nature of the person and his duties. He was one who guarded the bodily person of the superior to whom he was assigned, usually one of royalty. David has the distinction of being the first one mentioned in Scripture to hold such office. Priest Ahimelech, in his defense to Saul, described “David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard” (1 Sam 22:14). Later, when David sought refuge from Saul among the Philistines, Achish, king of Gath, said to David, “I will make you my bodyguard for life” (1 Sam 28:2). Subsequently, in David’s struggle for power he had his own bodyguard of thirty valiant men, and he set Benaiah “over his bodyguard” (2 Sam 23:23). “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem,” and burned the Temple, the king’s palace, and Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:8). See [[Guard]].