Prophecy & Music

A harp was hung above the bed of David, and once midnight arrived, a northern wind would blow on it, making its own melody. David awoke at once and delved into Torah until dawn broke.

After the break of dawn, the wise ones of Israel entered, saying to him, “Our lord, the king, your people Israel need sustenance.”

He said to them, “They should go and sustain each other.”

They said to him, “A handful cannot satisfy a lion, and a pit cannot be filled with clumps of dirt.”

He said to them, “Go out and take plunder.”

“But now, get me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.

(5) …When you reach the city, you will encounter a band of prophets descending from the high place, before them a harp, drum, and flute, and they will prophesy.

(6) The spirit of G-d will rush over you, and you will prophesy with them, transforming into a different person.

All his days, [Moses] never required any stimulation from any kind of nigun (melody) to invoke the spirit of prophecy, for it never withdrew from him at all, always at the ready, from his side, never refraining at all, as, in his supernal power, there is no withdrawal of spirit or the flow of [Divine] light, and this was his paradigm. This was not the case with the rest of the prophets, upon them peace, who needed nigunim (melodies) to awaken the spirit and invoke prophecy upon them, as it is written, “you will encounter a band of prophets descending from the high place, before them a harp, drum, and flute, and they will prophesy,” (1 Sam. 10:5) and, “Now, get me a musician, and as he plays his melody, the hand of G-d will be on him.” (2 Kings 3:15)