עמוס, פרק ו׳, פסוק ה׳

A sharp, satirical picture is painted of a wealthy, idle class completely consumed by material indulgence. Lost in a world of endless eating and drinking, these individuals have entirely forgotten God. To mask their shallow pursuits, they present themselves as refined artists, boasting of their sophisticated musical talents on the harp [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators is that their musical performances are marked by a deep focus on precision and distinctiveness. One perspective suggests this precision is found in their complex singing style. The performers carefully articulate each word, skillfully raising and lowering their voices to match the melody [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. They compose songs with distinct, unrhymed sections [אבן עזרא], crafting unique and separate tunes that stand completely apart from one another [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Another perspective shifts the focus from the singing to the physical playing of the instrument, describing how they carefully pluck each individual string of the harp to create the melody [רד״ק]. Alternatively, a completely different view suggests that their involvement in the music is purely financial; rather than playing themselves, these wealthy individuals simply toss coins to hire musicians to entertain them [רד״ק].

In their arrogance, these individuals view themselves as great musical experts, comparing their mastery of instruments and melodies to that of King David. However, a sharp and mocking contrast lies beneath this comparison. While King David dedicated his music and song to the heavens in order to praise God, these people use their music exclusively for personal enjoyment and the satisfaction of their own physical desires [רש״י, מצודת דוד].