And brought the ass and the colt
To Jesus, as Mark and Luke add, and who only make mention of the
colt: both were undoubtedly brought; the colt being unloosed and
taken away, the ass, its dam, followed after:
and put on them their clothes;
their loose upper garments, to be instead of saddles and
trappings, and that Christ might sit thereon with ease and
decency: the other evangelists say, that they cast their garments
on the colt; and the Syriac version here reads, "they put their
garments on the colt, and Jesus rode upon it": but as both were
brought, it is clear from hence, that their clothes were put upon
both; not knowing which Christ would choose to ride on. And it
should seem, that it was not unusual to put garments on asses to
ride on; for the Targumist on ( Judges 5:10 )
represents the princes of Israel as riding upon asses, strewed or
saddled with all kind (Nyrwyu) , of "painted garments". The Persic version,
without the least colour of authority from the original text,
renders it, "and Jesus put his own garment on the colt, and sat
thereon"; which is ridiculous, as well as contrary to truth:
and they sat him thereon,
or "on them": meaning either on the ass and colt, that is, on one
of them, or both successively, or on the clothes they put upon
them.