Shedding the Robes of Kingship: Samuel’s Subtle Imagery and a Surprising Lesson about Israel’s True King

Abstract This article explores the robe/armor removal imagery in the book(s) of Samuel. Through a study of the key instances of robe/armor removal, this article seeks to show how Samuel’s imagery develops the theme of Davidic kingship. As will be argued, the narrator uses the literary device of robe/armor removal to attest to the kingly nature of the one before whom a character’s robe or armor is removed. In the end, this literary pattern of robe/armor removal will shed light on David’s strange, somewhat undignified, “uncovering” in 2 Sam 6. By tracking the use of robe/armor removal imagery, it will be shown that David’s robe removal reveals his view that Yhwh is the true king of Israel.