In Isaiah 1:18, the words
scarlet and crimson
refer to red colors
that come from certain dyes.
Ancient cultures placed great importance on dyes,
especially those used for
sacred or ceremonial purposes,
such as
burial clothing or purification rituals
(see Leviticus 14:6).
The most famous redhead in the Bible
is David.
He was
“ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome”
(1 Samuel 16:12, ESV).
The word translated “ruddy” could refer to David’s complexion, but some commentators believe it refers to his hair. David could have been redheaded.
His character was opposite that of Esau’s.
David was “a man after God’s own heart”
(Acts 13:22),
while Esau was a “profane person”
(Hebrews 12:16, NKJV).
David was a man of strong passions.
When those passions were surrendered to the Lord, they served him well. He fought God’s battles, was a leader of men, and penned most of the psalms.
But when those passions were allowed to
control him, they
led David to deep sin and deception
(2 Samuel 11).
It is possible that David’s son Solomon also had red hair.
In the Song of Solomon, his bride praises his physical features,
calling him “radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand”
(Song of Solomon 5:10).
The Hebrew word translated “ruddy” here is
related to the word translated “red” in the phrases red heifer
(Numbers 19:2)
and red as blood
(2 Kings 3:22).
When King Solomon began to plan for the
building of God's temple in Jerusalem, he asked
King Hiram of Tyre for help.
Hiram had a friendly relationship with King David,
a friendship that Solomon wished to continue (2Chronicles 2:3).
Tyre at this time was famous for its dyes, dyeing
industry and skilled craftsmen.
The people of Tyre were knowledgeable on the best ways of dyeing cloth different colors.
Solomon, after stating he was building a great house of
worship for the great God, requested Hiram send
him a man who could supervise the project and
who had special skills in working with dyes.
He also requested building materials and those
skillful in construction.
Now, therefore, send me a man
skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron,
and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and one who is
skillful to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in
Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
And also send me cedar trees,
fir trees, and algum trees out of Lebanon, for I know that
your servants are skillful . .
. (2Chronicles 2:7 - 8, HBFV).
The Bible says that Hiram responded
by sending
just the right "color" person
for the job
(2Chronicles 2:13 - 14).