Genesis 45:22 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

To—each man changes of raiment— St. Jerome renders it, two robes, binas stolas; and the Syriac, a pair of garments, which seems the true interpretation. Great part of the riches of the ancients consisted in changes of raiment, as well as in money; whence it became a custom to present changes of raiment either for honour or reward, Judges 14:13. 2 Kings 5:5.Luke 15:22. Horace mentions no less than five thousand robes in the possession of one Roman, lib. i. epis. vi. ver. 43. The guests at weddings usually were presented with, and appeared in, these garments; which explains Matthew 22:11. And the custom of keeping so many of these garments is referred to by St. James, your riches are corrupted, and your garments, preserved in your wardrobes, are moth-eaten, James 5:2.

Genesis 45:22

22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.