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 (Psa 150:4), rendered "stringed instruments;" in Psa 45:8, Psa 45: 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, Josh. 6: 6, 8). The word means "bright," and may have been so called from the clear, shrill sound it emitted. It was often used (Exo 19:13; Num. 10:10; Judg. 7:16, Judg. 7: 18; 1-Sam 13:3). (4.) The hatsotserah, or straight trumpet (Psa 98:6; Num. 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-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" (Exo 15:20; Job 21:12; Psa 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 (Exo 28:33;39:25). (3.) The tseltselim, "cymbals" (2-Sam 6:5; Psa 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, Ezra 3: 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, 2-Sam 6: rendered "cornets" (R.V., "castanets"); in the Vulgate, "sistra," an instrument of agitation. (5.) The shalishim, mentioned only in 1-Sam 18:6, 1-Sam 18: rendered "instruments of music" (marg. of R.V., "triangles or three-stringed instruments").

The words in Eccl. 2:8, Eccl. 2: "musical instruments, and that of all sorts," Authorized Version, are in the Revised Version "concubines very many."