He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful face, and goodly to look on. Yahweh said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
he was ruddy, &c.--JOSEPHUS says that David was ten, while most modern commentators are of the opinion that he must have been fifteen years of age.
Samuel's eye was caught by Eliab's countenance and he rushed to judgment, much as he had done with Saul; but God whispered a correction: look not on the outside. Men judge by what shows, God by what is; the heart is the measure He uses, and therein lies true beauty and fitness for His service.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Samuel 16:6-13
1Sa 16:12-13 When David arrived, - and he was ruddy, also of beautiful eyes and good looks (אדמוני, used to denote the reddish colour of the hair, which was regarded as a mark of beauty in southern lands, where the hair is generally black.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 16:12-13