David's Harp

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The Gemara offers several answers to this question:
David had a sign indicating when it was midnight. As Rav Aḥa bar Bizna said that Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida said: A lyre hung over David’s bed, and once midnight arrived, the northern midnight wind would come and cause the lyre to play on its own. David would immediately rise from his bed and study Torah until the first rays of dawn.
Once dawn arrived, the Sages of Israel entered to advise him with regard to the various concerns of the nation and the economy…

Berakhot 3b:29-30

Rebbi Ḥuna in the name of Rebbi Aḥa: (Ps. 101:1) “A song of David. Kindness and justice I shall sing, to You, o Eternal, I shall chant.” David said before the Holy One, praise to Him: If You act in kindness towards me, I shall sing. If You act in judgment towards me, I shall sing. In any case, I shall chant.

Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 9:5:3

Rebbi Zeriqan and Rebbi Ammi in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish: The reason of Rebbi is (Ps. 119:62): “At midnight I get up to thank You for Your just laws.” And it is written (Ps. 119:148): “My eyes preceded night watches.” Rebbi Ḥizqiah said: Rebbi Zeriqan and Rebbi Abba, one explained the reason of Rebbi, the other the reason of Rebbi Nathan. He who explained the reason of Rebbi: “at midnight”…

Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 1:1:27

And the other Sage said: David said the following before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, am I not pious? For all of the kings of the East and the West sit in groups befitting their honored status, but I sit as a judge who issues rulings for the people. Women come with questions of ritual impurity and my hands become soiled with their blood as I labor to determine whether or not it is blood of impurity and she has menstruating woman status, and with a fetus that miscarried at a stage of development before it was clear whether…

Berakhot 4a:9

Relatedראו גם

King David

Lyres (כנור)

Sheetsדפי מקורות

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