King David's Harp and the Midnight North Wind

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotcha 19:1

Another interpretation of "Make for yourself" (Numbers 10:2): You are to use them, for you are a king, and no other may use them except King David, as it is said, "And the Levites stood (in their place) [etc.], and the singers sang and the trumpets sounded" (II Chronicles 29:26, 28). Our Rabbis said: Even the trumpets that were in the Temple were also hidden away. But King David would use the harp, as it is said, "Awake, my glory; awake, O lute and harp" (Psalms 57:9). Rabbi Pinhas the Priest bar Hama said: A harp was hanging above David's headrest. When midnight arrived, a north wind would blow upon it, and it would play of its own accord. Immediately David would arise, and all the students who were occupied with the Torah, and they would drive sleep from their eyes and meditate on the Torah until the rising of the dawn. Therefore David would say, "Awake, my glory" (ibid.) — it is the way of the dawn to awaken human beings, but I will awaken the dawn.

Themes

Biblical References