According to the Bible, King David played the harp, also known as the lyre. He is often depicted in art playing the harp,and there are several references to his musical abilities in the Old Testament. In 1 Samuel 16:23, it is said that David played the harp for King Saul to soothe him when he was troubled by an evil spirit. Additionally,in 2 Samuel 6:5, it is mentioned that David and all the Israelites played music and danced before the ark of the Lord as it was brought back to Jerusalem. While the exact type of instrument David played is not mentioned, it is commonly believed that he played a stringed instrument, such as a harp or lyre, based on the biblical references to instruments played in his time period.