ברן יחד כוכבי בקר, דרך המלכים שבעת שמניחים אבן פינה ליסד בית מקדש מלך, יעמידו שרים ומנגנים לנגן ולהריע תרועה גדולה, עפ"ז מצייר שבעת ירה אבן פנת הארץ רננו כל כוכבי בקר, וכל בני אלהים הריעו, וזה הציור של הכח המושך שיש לכל הכוכבים זא"ז ואל כדור הארץ, שערך מיתרי הכח המושך הזה ויחוסו שוה עם ערך הקולות אשר בחכמת המוסיק"א, וזה מראה הערך התבוניי והיחוס והשיוי שיש בין הארץ ויתר הכדורים, שכ"ז מורה על רוב החכמה וההשגחה: The ancient belief in the Music of the Spheres, according to which objects moving through space produce sounds whose pitch depends on their speed, is mentioned by Maimonides (Guide II,8). The Pythagoreans (c500 B.C.E) are credited with the discovery that harmonious sounds are emitted by strings whose lengths are simple ratios of whole numbers. An octave is the interval between the notes emitted by strings of similar composition and tension one of which is twice the length of the other; the fifth is that between strings whose lengths are in the ratio two to three. According to Pythagorean astronomy, the speed of a planet increases with its distance from the Earth, and so as they circle in their particular orbits each emits a different sound. However, their distances from the Earth are such that these sounds are in harmony. Adopting this notion for his own purposes, Malbim sees this verse as depicting the way the force of gravity acts between the heavenly bodies:
...the strings of this force of attraction and its proportions correlate with the scales of the musical notes. This shows the logical order, relationship and equilibrium that exists between the earth and the other spheres, all of which is indicative of great Wisdom and Providence.
The Pythagorean notion of a celestial harmony—the harmonious notes, beyond the reach of mortal ear, emitted by the heavenly bodies in their motions—was revived and advanced by Johannes Kepler (1571-1630). It led him to the law of planetary motion (Kepler's Third Law) that the squares of the periodic times of the planets are in the same ratio as the cubes of their respective mean distances from the sun. He expressed his joy at this discovery in the following paean to God (Kline p.78):
The wisdom of the Lord is infinite, so are His glory and His power. Ye heavens, sing His praises. Sun, moon and planets glorify Him in your ineffable language. Celestial harmonies, all ye who comprehend His marvelous works praise Him. And thou, my soul, praise they Creator. It is by Him and in Him that all exists...To Him be praise, honor and glory throughout eternity.