Who had red hair in the Bible?

Samuel is interrupted in his mourning for Saul by a new command to fill his horn with oil for the anointing of another king. That king is to be chosen from the sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite. A sacrificial feast is appointed in connection with the approaching anointing of the son of Jesse, and Samuel is obedient and went to Bethlehem. Then he called Jesse and his sons to the feast. Then the seven sons of Jesse pass by, but the chosen one is not among them. Only one was left, the youngest who kept the sheep. He is brought in. "Now he was ruddy (literally, "reddish," perhaps referring to auburn hair) and withal of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look upon; and the LORD said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he." David the son of Jesse was anointed and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. And so David became the Lord's anointed. David means "beloved"; he is a shepherd, typifying the Beloved One, the good, the great and the chief Shepherd. What a contrast with Saul!

"And Samuel said to Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look at. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he." "There remains yet the youngest." Surely he could not be the elect one, thought Jesse. Man cannot understand the ways of God. The very instrument which God is about to make use of is overlooked or despised by man. "Arise, anoint him: for this is he," is God's perfect reply to the thoughts of Jesse and Samuel.

And how happy it is to note David's occupation. "Behold, he keeps the sheep." This was afterwards referred to by the Lord, when He said to David, "I took thee from the sheep-cote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel." Nothing can more sweetly illustrate God's thoughts of the kingly office than the work of a shepherd. Indeed, when it is not executed in the spirit of a shepherd, it fails of its end. King David fully entered into this, as may be seen in those touching words, "These sheep, what have they done?"

Verses 24-26 record the birth of the two sons. Esau, the first, was strikingly red in his appearance, hairy, and his hair red. This reminds us of Adam, which means "red earth," for Esau's history was to emphasize what man is in the flesh, just as "the first man is from the earth, earthy" (1 Cor.15:47). The second son, Jacob, followed closely, his hand holding the heel of Esau. This is told us in order to illustrate what was to be true of Jacob in his life. His name means "he will take by the heel." Esau referred to this later when Jacob had deceived his father in taking Esau's place. Esau's words then were "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times?" (ch.22:36). His hand grasped for the blessing that was going to be given to Esau. This tells us what Jacob was in the flesh, but later his name was changed to Israel, "a prince with God," for God's counsels would stand, and He did a work in Jacob's soul that made a glorious change in the man.

Verses 24-26 record the birth of the two sons. Esau, the first, was strikingly red in his appearance, hairy, and his hair red. This reminds us of Adam, which means “red earth,” for Esau's history was to emphasize what man is in the flesh, just as “the first man is from the earth, earthy” (1 Cor. 15:47). The second son, Jacob, followed closely, his hand holding the heel of Esau. This is told us in order to illustrate what was to be true of Jacob in his life. His name means “he will take by the heel.” Esau referred to this later when Jacob had deceived his father in taking Esau's place. Esau's words then were “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times?” (Gen. 22:36). His hand grasped for the blessing that was going to be given to Esau. This tells us what Jacob was in the flesh, but later his name was changed to Israel, “a prince with God,” for God's counsels would stand, and He did a work in Jacob's soul that made a glorious change in the man.

A twin son with Jacob of Isaac and Rebekah, though Esau was actually the first-born. He is described as "red, all over like a hairy garment;" with this his name corresponds, which signifies 'hairy.' Gen. 25:25. The first thing we read of him is the selling of his birthright to his over-reaching brother Jacob, for a mess of pottage. Concerning this he is called in the N.T. a profane person, because he valued not that which was the gift of God. He afterwards sought the blessing carefully with tears, but found no place of repentance. Gen. 25:29-34; Heb. 12:16-17.

"And these [are] the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-Aram, sister of Laban the Syrian. And Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife, because she [was] barren; and Jehovah was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If so, why [am] I thus (or, do I live?)? And she went to enquire of Jehovah. And Jehovah said to her, Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from they bowels; and [one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, twins [were] in her womb. And the first came out red all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out; and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob; and Isaac [was] sixty years old when she bore them" (vv. 19-26).

David, too, was described as “ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to” (1 Sam. 16:12). This is perhaps the fullest description of any of the Lord’s servants that Scripture affords us. It shows that David was youthful, in the early blush of young manhood, in contrast with Saul’s height, and David was a type of our Lord.

The hour had come for the appearance of David, in connection with Israel's history and God's purposes. So Samuel was commissioned to go to Jesse, the Bethlehemite, and, directed by God how to proceed in the matter, the prophet departed on his mission. How far must Saul have got from God, when Samuel feared for his life, if he executed the command entrusted to him. (1 Sam. 16:2.) Seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, but the king was not among them. At length, the least thought of by men, the youngest; who was with the sheep, was sent for, and the prophet, directed by the Lord, poured the anointing oil upon him. Two things characterised him — his beauty, and his outward appearance. Saul was remarkable for the latter (1 Sam. 9:2), but his heart was not right with God. Eliab, David's elder brother, had personal appearance to commend him, but "the Lord," Samuel was told, "seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh at the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7.) Saul had another heart given to him after he had been anointed. We read nothing of this kind as regards David. The Lord saw his heart, which man could not. Besides this, he "was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to." (1 Sam. 16:12.) So, whilst there was that in him which God alone could fully discern, he was not deficient in that which man could admire. In nothing suited for a king was he to be deficient. His heart, that God saw. His personal appearance all could admire. Thus far as to his person. Here, however, another thing should be noticed. David was anointed king without any conditions as to the continuance of his kingdom and dynasty being expressed or implied, for he was the man of God's purpose, the type of the Lord's Anointed, Christ Jesus our Lord.

"My beloved is white and ruddy." The ruddy color in the face speaks of health and vigor. David, who was a type of Christ, was ruddy (see 1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42). None were ever so full of energy for God as the Lord. In the Hebrew the word translated ruddy here is translated red in Numbers 19:2, "a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke," and in Exodus 26:14. etc., "And thou shalt make a covering for the tent (tabernacle) of rams' skins dyed red." Both the red heifer, the ashes of which were for the water of purification, and the rams' skins dyed red are a type of Christ. In comparing these passages, the ruddy or red color would seem to denote the Lord's entire consecration and devotion to God even unto death. All His strength and energy both in life and in death was spent to glorify God and to do His will. While here He said, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34).

He was ruddy. The natural freshness and vigour of youth and early manhood were evident in the colour of David; but what is commended by the Spirit of God in him was offensive to Goliath and despised by him, for we read in verse 42 of the next chapter, "And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance." The giant was unable to discern the lovely traits of moral worth that God took pleasure in, and that were reflected in his appearance. When the bride in the Canticles speaks of the perfections of her