Category:Instrumental Music

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Instrumental Music - 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 Psalms 8:1; 81; Psalms 84:1. (5.) Minnim (Psalms 150:4), rendered "stringed instruments;" in Psalms 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 Psalms 53:1 and 88; supposed to be a kind of lute or guitar. Of wind instruments mention is made of, (1.) The 'ugab (Genesis 4:21; Job 21:12; Job 30:31), probably the so-called Pan's pipes or syrinx. (2.) The qeren or "horn" (Joshua 6:5; 1 Chronicles 25:5). (3.) The shophar, rendered "trumpet" (Joshua 6:4, Joshua 6:6, Joshua 6:8). The word means "bright," and may have been so called from the clear, shrill sound it emitted. It was often used (Exodus 19:13; Numbers 10:10; Judges 7:16, Judges 7:18; 1 Samuel 13:3). (4.) The hatsotserah, or straight trumpet (Psalms 98:6; Numbers 10:1). 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 Samuel 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isaiah 5:12; Jeremiah 48:36) which is still used in Palestine. (6.) The sumponyah, rendered "dulcimer" (Daniel 3:5), probably a sort of bagpipe. (7.) The maskrokith'a (Daniel 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" (Exodus 15:20; Job 21:12; Psalms 68:25); also "tabret" (Genesis 31:27; Isaiah 24:8; 1 Samuel 10:5). (2.) The paamon, the "bells" on the robe of the high priest (Exodus 28:33;e Exodus 39:25). (3.) The tseltselim, "cymbals" (2 Samuel 6:5; Psalms 150:5), which are struck together and produce a loud, clanging sound. Metsilloth, "bells" on horses and camels for ornament, and metsiltayim , "cymbals" (1 Chronicles 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 Samuel 6:5, rendered "cornets" (R.V., "castanets"); in the Vulgate, " sistra ," an instrument of agitation. (5.) The shalishim, mentioned only in 1 Samuel 18:6, rendered "instruments of music" (marg. of R.V., "triangles or three-stringed instruments"). The words in Ecclesiastes 2:8, "musical instruments, and that of all sorts," Authorized Version, are in the Revised Version "concubines very many."