Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 18:4
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
4. Jonathan stript himself, &c.] Jonathan gave David (1) his ml or long outer robe for ordinary wear (see on 1Sa 2:19); (2) his military dress (1Sa 17:38) and girdle: (3) even his sword, and the famous bow which was his special weapon (2Sa 1:22). The act was at once a ratification of their compact and a pubic mark of honour. See Gen 41:42; Est 6:8. We may compare the exchange of armour between Glaucus and Diomede when they met before Troy, as a pledge of old family friendship (Hom. Il. VI. 230).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Sa 18:4
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David.
David invested with royal robes
From the days of Homer and the Trojan wars downwards, this has been the method employed by Orientals to denote the bestowment of dignity and distinction. Not more eagerly coveted is the Order of the Garter, or Bath, or Thistle among ourselves than in ancient times was the gift of royal robes. Any portion, indeed, of a kings wardrobe or jewel box was greatly prized; but the voluntary donation of dress, and more particularly in the act of being worn, rendered the tribute doubly valuable. Whenever this latter occurred the cherished memento was transmitted as an heirloom from sire to son. It was equivalent to a patent of nobility. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
We find in Homer a minute enumeration of the armour Ulysses received in a gift from Meriones, and in the story of Nisus and Euryalus, in the IX OEneid of Virgil, there occurs a duplicate picture of that presented to us in the tent of Saul. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. Jonathan stripped himself] Presents of clothes or rich robes, in token of respect and friendship, are frequent in the East. And how frequently arms and clothing were presented by warriors to each other in token of friendship, may be seen in Homer and other ancient writers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Partly as a pledge of his great respect and affection to him; and partly to vindicate David from that contempt which might cleave to him for his former pastoral habit and condition, and to put him into a habit suitable to his present greatness and glory.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. Jonathan stripped himself of therobe that was upon him, and gave it to DavidTo receive anypart of the dress which had been worn by a sovereign, or hiseldest son and heir, is deemed, in the East, the highest honorwhich can be conferred on a subject (see on Es6:8). The girdle, being connected with the sword and the bow, maybe considered as being part of the military dress, and great value isattached to it in the East.
1Sa18:5-9. SAUL ENVIESHIS PRAISE.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon him,…. As a token of his hearty love and true friendship, and that David might appear at court not in the habit of a shepherd, but in that of a prince:
and gave it to David, and his garments; his other garments besides his robe, and so clothed him from tip to toe, and which fitted him; for as there was a similarity in their souls, and the disposition of them, so in the make and hulk of their bodies, and in the stature of them:
even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle; these he gave him to accoutre himself with, that he might appear as a soldier, as well as like a prince, and as another Jonathan, or rather the same; that they might seem as one, as alike in body, so in garb and habit.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
As a sign and pledge of his friendship, Jonathan gave David his clothes and his armour. Meil, the upper coat or cloak. Maddim is probably the armour coat (vid., 1Sa 17:39). This is implied in the word , which is repeated three times, and by which the different arms were attached more closely to . For the act itself, compare the exchange of armour made by Glaucus and Diomedes (Hom. Il. vi. 230). This seems to have been a common custom in very ancient times, as we meet with it also among the early Celts (see Macpherson’s Ossian).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) Gave it to David.It has been suggested that the reason of this gift was to enable his friend Davidthen poorly cladto appear at his fathers court in a fitting dress; but this kind of present was usual among friends in those remote ages. Glaucus and Diomed, for instance, exchanged armour of a very different value.
Now change we arms, and prove to either host
We guard the friendship of the line we boast.
* * * * * *
For Diomeds brass arms, of mean device,
For which nine oxen paid (a vulgar price),
He gave his own of gold, divinely wrought:
A hundred beeves the shining purchase bought.
Iliad, vi. 286295.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. His garments Rather, his armour, as the word is rendered, 1Sa 17:39. This, we are immediately told, consisted of his sword, bow, and girdle. The giving of this robe and armour was the seal of the covenant between them.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 18:4. And Jonathan stripped himself Princes do not only order caffetans to be given to those whom they would honour; they have sometimes presented such persons with their own garments. D’Herbelot informs us, that when sultan Selim, the son of Bajazet, had defeated Canson Gauri, sultan of the Mamelukes of Egypt, he assisted at prayers in a mosque at Aleppo upon his triumphant return to Constantinople; and that the imam of the mosque having added at the close of the prayer these words, “May God preserve Selim Khan, the servant and minister of the two sacred cities of Mecca and Medina!” the title was so very agreeable to the sultan, that he gave the robe which he had on to this imam, and from that time forward the Othoman emperors have always used it in their letters patent, as kings of Egypt. Thus Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David; and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. See Observations, p. 182.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Ver. 4. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe and gave it to David, &c.] As a pledge of his dear love, and for a symbol, that now all things were common betwixt them, as it useth to be betwixt dearest friends, and that he would have David looked upon as his Alter Ego.
And his garments, even to his sword, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and. Mark the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) in verses: 1Sa 18:4-5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
stripped himself: Presents of clothes or rich robes, as tokens of respect or friendship, are frequent in the East. Gen 41:42, Est 6:8, Est 6:9, Isa 61:10, Luk 15:22, 2Co 5:21, Phi 2:7, Phi 2:8
Reciprocal: 2Sa 1:22 – the bow Isa 22:21 – clothe Eze 23:15 – with girdles
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 18:4. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him This he did that he might do honour to, as well as show his affection for, David. For it is probable that David was before clothed in a rustic habit, not fit to appear in at court.