Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 22:18
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
18. His brutal enemies are only waiting for his death that they may strip his body, and divide his clothes between them. Already they are settling their respective shares. This is a simpler explanation than to suppose that the Psalmist represents himself as a prisoner stripped and led out to execution, or as waylaid and plundered by robbers (Job 24:7-10; Mic 2:8). It need not be supposed that this actually happened to the Psalmist. The language is perhaps proverbial. But it was literally fulfilled in the circumstances of the Crucifixion (Joh 19:23-24; cp. Mat 27:35, where, however, the reference to the prophecy in the Received Text is an interpolation).
and cast lots &c.] R.V., and upon my vesture do they cast lots. The inner garment, the “seamless tunic,” which would be spoilt by rending.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They part my garments among them – They divide; they apportion. This refers merely to the fact that they made such a division or distribution of his garments; the manner in which it was done, is specified in the other part of the verse. The word garments is a general term, and would be applicable to any part of the raiment.
And cast lots upon my vesture – That is, upon the part here represented by the word vesture, they cast lots. There was a general division of his garments by agreement, or in some other mode not involving the use of the lot; on some particular portion, here indicated by the word vesture, the lot was cast to determine whose it should be. The word thus rendered vesture – lebush – does not necessarily denote any particular article of raiment, as distinguished from what is meant by the word rendered garments. Both are general terms denoting clothing, raiment, vestment; and either of the terms might be applied to any article of apparel. The original words used here would not necessarily designate one article of raiment as disposed of without the lot and another specified portion by the lot. But although it could not be argued beforehand from the mere use of the language that such would be the case, yet if that should occur, it would be natural and not improper to apply the language in that sense, and as therein completely fulfilled.
As a matter of fact this was literally fulfilled in the crucifixion of the Saviour. By remarkable circumstances which no human sagacity could have foreseen or anticipated, there occurred a general division of a portion of his raiment, without an appeal to the lot, among the soldiers who were engaged in crucifying him, and a specific disposal of one article of his raiment by the lot, Mat 27:35; Luk 23:34; Joh 19:23-24. It never occurred in the life of David, as far as we know, or have reason to believe, that his enemies stripped him, and divided his garments among themselves; and the description here, therefore, could be applicable only to some one else. It was completely fulfilled in the Saviour; and this verse, therefore, furnishes the fullest proof that the psalm refers to him. At the same time it should be observed that these circumstances are such that an impostor could not have secured the correspondence of the events with the prediction. The events referred to were not under the control of him whose garments were thus divided. They depended wholly on others; and by no art or plan could an impostor have so arranged matters that all these things should have appeared to be fulfilled in himself.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. They part my garments] This could be true in no sense of David. The fact took place at the crucifixion of our Lord. The soldiers divided his upper garment into four parts, each soldier taking a part; but his tunic or inward vestment being without seam, woven in one entire piece, they agreed not to divide, but to cast lots whose the whole should be. Of this scripture the Roman soldiers knew nothing; but they fulfilled it to the letter. This was foreseen by the Spirit of God; and this is a direct revelation concerning Jesus Christ, which impresses the whole account with the broad seal of eternal truth.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This also cannot be applied to David without an uncouth and strained metaphor, but was literally fulfilled in Christ, Mat 27:35; Joh 19:24.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. This literally fulfilledprediction closes the sad picture of the exposed and desertedsufferer.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They part my garments among them,…. Such as died the death of the cross were crucified naked h, and their clothes were the perquisites of the executioners; there were four soldiers concerned in the crucifixion of Christ, and these parted his garments into four parts, and everyone took his part;
and cast lots on my vesture; which was a seamless coat, wove from the top to the bottom; and therefore, not willing to rend it, they cast lots upon it who should have it; all this was exactly fulfilled in Christ, Joh 19:23.
h Vid Lipsium de Cruce, l. 2. c. 7. p. 81.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
What follows in the next verse concerning his garments is metaphorical. It is as if he had said, that all his goods were become a prey to his enemies, even as conquerors are accustomed to plunder the vanquished, or to divide the spoil among themselves, by casting lots to determine the share which belongs to each. Comparing his ornaments, riches, and all that he possessed, to his garments, he complains that, after he had been despoiled of them, his enemies divided them among themselves, as so much booty, accompanied with mockery of him; and by this mockery the villany of their conduct was aggravated, inasmuch as they triumphed over him, as if he had been a dead man. The Evangelists quote this place to the letter, as we say, and without figure; and there is no absurdity in their doing so. To teach us the more certainly that in this psalm Christ is described to us by the Spirit of prophecy, the heavenly Father intended that in the person of his Son those things should be visibly accomplished which were shadowed forth in David. Matthew, (Mat 8:16,) in narrating that the paralytic, the blind, and the lame, were healed of their diseases, says, that this was done “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bear our sicknesses;” although the prophet, in that place, sets before us the Son of God in the character of a spiritual physician. We are extremely slow and backward to believe; and it is not wonderful, that, on account of our dullness of apprehension, a demonstration of the character of Christ, palpable to our senses, has been given us, (516) which might have the effect of arousing the sluggishness of our understandings.
(516) “ Il nous a este faite une demonstration si grossiere, qu’on la pouvoit taster, au doigt.” — Fr. “There has been given us a demonstration so palpable, that it might be touched with the finger.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) They part my garments . . .i.e., as of one already dead. The word garment (beged) and vesture (lebsh) are synonymous terms for the same article of dressthe modern abba, or plaid, the usual outer garment of the Bedouin. The latter is a more poetic term. (See Bib. Diet, art. Dress.) The application of the verse in Joh. 19:24, &c, adds a refinement not present in the psalm.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. They part my garments The finishing touch in the description of cold brutality. Under the eye of Jesus the soldiers fulfilled this prediction, Joh 19:23-24, where see the note.
Vesture The oriental robe, or mantle, worn loosely upon the person, which served as a covering by night.
Exo 22:26-27. The word is not decisive of the particular part of the raiment, but the casting lots for it determines, as it could not be divided without destroying it.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘They part my garments among them, and for My robe they cast lots.
Meanwhile as He hung there, the soldiers gambled heartlessly at His feet, dividing up His clothing, and casting lots for His seamless robe. As far as they were concerned He was as good as dead, and His clothes were their perquisites. They took another swig of wine. They were half drunk. It was a good thing to be half drunk when you carried out a crucifixion. It deadened the awfulness of what you were doing. And to them He was just another victim.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Ver. 18. They part my garments among them, and cast lots ] A very clear testimony to us that our crucified God (as they scornfully term him) was the true Messiah, so long since fore prophesied of, and accordingly accomplished, Luk 23:34 Job 20:24 . Such texts as this we should make much of, as the best and surest evidences of our Christian faith, 2Pe 1:19 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
part, &c. Quoted in Mat 27:35. Mar 15:24. Luk 23:34. Joh 19:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 27:35, Mar 15:24, Luk 23:34, Joh 19:23, Joh 19:24
Reciprocal: Gen 37:23 – General Jon 1:7 – and let