שמואל א, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ט״ז

King Saul’s mental state was hidden from the general public, but his closest and most loyal servants witnessed his suffering firsthand. Fully aware of the sudden attacks of a dark spirit that would grip him, they sought a way to bring him relief through the calming power of music [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Approaching the king, there is a general consensus among commentators that the servants displayed absolute devotion and readiness. They asked only for his command, standing fully prepared to fulfill his wishes and search for a musician. Their proposal was to find someone deeply knowledgeable in the art of music and capable of actually playing the harp [רד״ק]. The servants focused entirely on the candidate's musical talent, recognizing that this skill alone was enough to achieve their goal of comforting the king when he needed it most [מלבי״ם].

The ultimate hope was that the joy brought by the music would chase away the fear and trembling that took hold of him. They believed that as the melodies played, his spirit would find peace and his overall condition would greatly improve [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].