Another matter, “wisdom will bolster the wise” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “It is a particularly wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:6); “more than ten rulers” – more than the ten matters that serve the soul: Esophagus for food, trachea for voice, liver for wrath, gall bladder for envy, the lung drains, stomach to grind, spleen to crush, kidneys advise, heart understands, tongue concludes.
Another matter, “wisdom will bolster the wise” – this is David; “more than ten rulers” – more than the ten elders who spoke in the book of Psalms, and they are: Adam the first man, Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon. Regarding these five there is no dispute; who are the other five? Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan, Rav said: Asaf, Heman, Yedutun, the three sons of Koraḥ, who are [considered] one, and Ezra. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Asaf here is Asaf there,121Aviasaf, one of the sons of Koraḥ. but, because he was a learned man, he was privileged to recite songs with his brother and he was privileged to recite songs on his own.
According to Rav, it was a different Asaf, as it is stated: “Under the hand of Asaf, who prophesied according to the direction of the king” (I Chronicles 25:2). Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan, Rav said: Literally “for Yedutun” (Psalms 39:1).122When the verse states: “For the leader, for Yedutun, a psalm of David” (Psalms 39:1), it actually means that it was authored by Yedutun. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “For Yedutun” [means that the psalmist] prophesied regarding the edicts [datin] and the punishments that befell him and Israel.
Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Even though ten people spoke in the book of Psalms, it is not attributed to them, but to David king of Israel. They stated a parable, to what is the matter analogous? To a group of people who seek to recite a hymn to the king. The king said to them: ‘You are all fine, you are all pious, you are all worthy of reciting a hymn before me; but so-and-so will recite it on behalf of all of you.
Why? Because his voice is sweet.’ So too, when the ten righteous men sought to recite the book of Psalms, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘You are all fine, pious, and worthy to recite a hymn before Me, but David will recite it on behalf of all of you. Why? Because his voice is sweet.’ That is what is written: “The sweet singer of Israel” (II Samuel 23:1).