Music

Jubal was the inventor of musical instruments (Gen. 4:21). The Hebrews were much given to the cultivation of music. Their whole history and literature afford abundant evidence of this. After "the Deluge, the first mention of music is in the account of" Laban's interview with Jacob (Gen. 31:27). After their triumphal "passage of the Red Sea, Moses and the children of Israel sang" their song of deliverance (Ex. 15). "But the period of Samuel, David, and Solomon was the golden age "of Hebrew music, as it was of Hebrew poetry. Music was now for" the first time systematically cultivated. It was an essential part of training in the schools of the prophets (1 Sam. 10:5; 19:19-24; 2 Kings 3:15; 1 Chr. 25:6). There now arose also a class of professional singers (2 Sam. 19:35; Eccl. 2:8). The "temple, however, was the great school of music. In the" conducting of its services large bands of trained singers and players on instruments were constantly employed (2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Chr. 15; 16; 23;5; 25:1-6). "In private life also music seems to have held an important place "among the Hebrews (Eccl. 2:8; Amos 6:4-6; Isa. 5:11, 12; 24:8," 9; Ps. 137; Jer. 48:33; Luke 15:25).

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.

"(Heb. menatstseah), the precentor of the Levitical choir or" "orchestra in the temple, mentioned in the titles of fifty-five" "psalms, and in Hab. 3:19, Revised Version. The first who held" "this office was Jeduthun (1 Chr. 16:41), and the office appears" to have been hereditary. Heman and Asaph were his two colleagues (2 Chr. 35:15).

Related Bible Dictionary Terms:
Music Instrumental