Music plays a vital role in the pivotal points in Saul’s career. In his election as the inaugural king of Israel, he is told to join a procession of prophets playing various musical instruments (1 Sam. 10:5). While Saul joins the procession, the spirit of the Lord comes upon him, causing the future king to prophesy. In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, Saul’s mental health takes on such a plunge that David has to be brought into court as the king’s music therapist. Whenever an evil spirit comes on Saul, David plucking on the strings of a lyre provides respite.
After David triumphs over Goliath, the women’s song exalting David’s success over Saul’s is enough to cause the latter to become very angry. The next day, an evil spirit comes upon Saul while David plays the lyre; this causes Saul to hurl the spear in his hand at David. Unwilling to give up, Saul repeats the same assault in 1 Samuel 19:9-10, causing David to flee from the king.
Saul’s espionage soon discovers David’s whereabouts, and three contingents are unsuccessfully sent to take David down. Finally, Saul decides to seek David out himself, and a spirit from God comes upon him. He also shows ecstatic prophetic behavior (1 Sam. 19:23). Saul is beside himself as he strips off his garments and lays naked all that day and all that night. What is consciously missing is that, in this final episode, we do not read of the playing of musical instruments during the processions.
What is the function of music within these passages? What is the relationship between music and the spirits (such as the spirit of Yahweh and the evil spirit)? Why is music not mentioned in the prophetic processions of 1 Samuel 19:9-24? What does music have to do with the acceptance/rejection of David and Saul as kings of Israel? This study argues that music plays a vital role within the Saul narratives in the book of Samuel—music functions as a sign that marked Saul’s election as the king of Israel. As part of the sign, the spirit of Yahweh comes upon Saul, making him prophesy. Further, Saul is being transformed into “another man,” where his heart is transformed. However, after Saul is rejected as king, the role of music progressively changes. An evil spirit replaces the spirit of Yahweh. Music initially has the power to chase away the evil spirit and make Saul feel better. By the time we come to 1 Sam. 19:9-24, music is not only conspicuously missing, Saul’s rejection becomes final, marked by a depiction of the naked king before Samuel.