18:4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe. As crown prince (20:31), Jonathan would have expected to succeed his father as king. In 13:22 Jonathan and Saul had been distinguished from the rest of the people by their possession of swords and spears. Here Jonathan’s gifts of his robe and weapons to David not only signifies his loyalty but implies his recognition of David as God’s choice for the next king. See Jonathan’s explicit confession in 23:17; also 2 Sam. 1:10 note.