The Robe

The soldiers who crucified Jesus divided his clothes between the four of them and cast lots to see who would get his robe. The story maps the arrangement of the Israelite camp in the wilderness.

John 19:23-24

²³When the soldiers had crucified Joshua they took his clothes and divided them into 4 parts, a part to each of the soldiers. His robe was without seam, woven from the top throughout. John 19:23²⁴They said to 1 another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be. John 19:24a FA The writing was fulfilled which said: They divided my clothes among them and for my robe they cast lots. Q Psalms 22:18 These things the soldiers did. John 19:24b (John 19:23-24 BRB)

Count

4 = Numbers

Numbers

The four soldiers in the book of Numbers are the four divisions of the army, each arranged around the tribe of Levi and the tabernacle in the middle of the camp.

FE ¹The Master spoke with Moses and with Aaron and said to them, ²Every man will camp by his own banner with the mark of the house of his father of the children of Israel around the tent of time. Numbers 2:1-2³Those who camp 1st toward the east will be of the banner of the camp of Judah according to their hosts and the head of the children of Judah Nahshon son of Amminadab. ⁴The number of his host was 74,600. Numbers 2:3-4⁵Those who camp by him will be the tribe of Issachar and the head of the children of Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar. ⁶The number of his host was 54,400. Numbers 2:5-6⁷Then will camp the tribe of Zebulun and the head of the children of Zebulun Eliab son of Helon. ⁸The number of his host was 57,400. Numbers 2:7-8⁹The total number of the camp of Judah was 186,400 throughout their hosts. They will march 1st. Numbers 2:9¹⁰On the south side will be the banner of the camp of Reuben according to their hosts and the head of the children of Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur. ¹¹The number of his host was 46,500. Numbers 2:10-11¹²Those who camp by him will be the tribe of Simeon and the head of the children of Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. ¹³The number of his host was 59,300. Numbers 2:12-13¹⁴Then will camp the tribe of Gad and the head of the children of Gad Eliasaph son of Reuel. ¹⁵The number of his host was 45,650. Numbers 2:14-15¹⁶The total number of the camp of Reuben was 151,450 throughout their hosts. They will march second. Numbers 2:16¹⁷Then the tent of time will march with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they camped so they will march every man by his banner. Numbers 2:17¹⁸On the west side will be the banner of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts and the head of the children of Ephraim Elishama son of Ammihud. ¹⁹The number of his host was 40,500. Numbers 2:18-19²⁰Those who camp by him will be the tribe of Manasseh and the head of the children of Manasseh Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. ²¹The number of his host was 32,200. Numbers 2:20-21²²Then will camp the tribe of Benjamin and the head of the children of Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni. ²³The number of his host was 35,400. Numbers 2:22-23²⁴The total number of the camp of Ephraim was 108,100 throughout their hosts. They will march third. Numbers 2:24²⁵The banner of the camp of Dan will be on the north side by their hosts and the head of the children of Dan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. ²⁶The number of his host was 62,700. Numbers 2:25-26²⁷Those who camp by him will be the tribe of Asher and the head of the children of Asher Pagiel son of Ocran. ²⁸The number of his host was 41,500. Numbers 2:27-28²⁹Then will camp the tribe of Naphtali and the head of the children of Naphtali Ahira son of Enan. ³⁰The number of his host was 53,400. Numbers 2:29-30³¹The total number of the camp of Dan was 157,600. They will march last with their banners. Numbers 2:31 (Numbers 2:1-31 BRB)

Note the counts and marching order woven into the above passage is reflecting the fact that this is their military, so it plays well to the four soldiers in John. Note also that there was a standard for each of the four camps. This matches the four pieces of cloth held by the soldiers.

The robe itself, the one that could not be torn, that was in the middle, matches the tribe of Levi who camped in the middle of the four divisions. That the robe goes with Levi is clear because the robe worn by the high priest is actually the most important article of clothing in the Bible, and Jesus, of course, was filling the role of the high priest when he offered his own life in sacrifice for sin.

Ryan Eaton 2012-07-18