Music Instrumental

Among instruments of music used by the Hebrews a principal place "is given to stringed instruments. These were, (1.) The kinnor," "the "harp." (2.) The nebel, "a skin bottle," rendered" "psaltery. (3.) The sabbeka, or "sackbut," a lute or lyre. (4.)" "The gittith, occurring in the title of Ps. 8; 8; 84. (5.) Minnim" "(Ps. 150:4), rendered "stringed instruments;" in Ps. 45:8, in" "the form minni, probably the apocopated (i.e., shortened)" "plural, rendered, Authorized Version, "whereby," and in the" "Revised Version "stringed instruments." (6.) Machalath, in the" titles of Ps. 53 and 88; supposed to be a kind of lute or guitar. "Of wind instruments mention is made of, (1.) The `ugab (Gen. "4:21; Job 21:12; 30:31), probably the so-called Pan's pipes or" "syrinx. (2.) The qeren or "horn" (Josh. 6:5; 1 Chr. 25:5). (3.)" "The shophar, rendered "trumpet" (Josh. 6:4, 6, 8). The word" "means "bright," and may have been so called from the clear," shrill sound it emitted. It was often used (Ex. 19:13; Num. "10:10; Judg. 7:16, 18; 1 Sam. 13:3). (4.) The hatsotserah, or" straight trumpet (Ps. 98:6; Num. 10:1-10). This name is supposed "by some to be an onomatopoetic word, intended to imitate the" "pulse-like sound of the trumpet, like the Latin taratantara." Some have identified it with the modern trombone. (5.) The "halil, i.e, "bored through," a flute or pipe (1 Sam. 10:5; 1" Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; Jer. 48:36) which is still used in "Palestine. (6.) The sumponyah, rendered "dulcimer" (Dan. 3:5)," "probably a sort of bagpipe. (7.) The maskrokith'a (Dan. 3:5)," "rendered "flute," but its precise nature is unknown." "Of instruments of percussion mention is made of, (1.) The toph, "an instrument of the drum kind, rendered "timbrel" (Ex. 15:20;" "Job 21:12; Ps. 68:25); also "tabret" (Gen. 31:27; Isa. 24:8; 1" "Sam. 10:5). (2.) The paamon, the "bells" on the robe of the high" "priest (Ex. 28:33; 39:25). (3.) The tseltselim, "cymbals" (2" "Sam. 6:5; Ps. 150:5), which are struck together and produce a" "loud, clanging sound. Metsilloth, "bells" on horses and camels" "for ornament, and metsiltayim, "cymbals" (1 Chr. 13:8; Ezra" "3:10, etc.). These words are all derived from the same root," "tsalal, meaning "to tinkle." (4.) The menaan'im, used only in 2" "Sam. 6:5, rendered "cornets" (R.V., "castanets"); in the" "Vulgate, "sistra," an instrument of agitation. (5.) The" "shalishim, mentioned only in 1 Sam. 18:6, rendered "instruments" "of music" (marg. of R.V., "triangles or three-stringed" "instruments")." "The words in Eccl. 2:8, "musical instruments, and that of all "sorts," Authorized Version, are in the Revised Version" concubines very many.

Related Bible Dictionary Terms:
Music