Music in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
(For illustrations, see DANCE; DAVID; FLUTE; HARP;
JEDUTHUN.) Its invention is due to a Cainite, Jubal son of
Lamech, "father (first teacher) of all such as handle the
harp (lyre) and organ" (pipe). "The lyre and flute were
introduced by the brother of a nomadic herdsman (Jabal); it
is in the leisure of this occupation that music is generally
first exercised and appreciated" (Kalisch: Genesis 4:21).
"Mahalaleel," third from Seth, means "giving praise to God,"
therefore vocal music in religious services was probably
earlier than instrumental music among the Cainites (Genesis
5:12). Laban the Syrian mentions "songs, tabret
(tambourine), and harp" (Genesis 31:27); Job (Job 21:12)
"the timbrel (tambourine), harp, and organ (pipe)". Instead
of "they take," translated "they lift up (the voice)," as in
Isaiah 42:11, to accompany "the tambourine," etc. (Umbrett.)
Thus the "voice," stringed and wind instruments, include all
kinds of music. The Israelite men led by Moses sang in
chorus, and Miriam led the women in singing the refrain at
each interval, accompanied by tambourine and dances (Exodus
15:21).
Music rude and boisterous accompanied the dances in
honor of the golden calf, so that Joshua mistook it for "the
noise of war," "the voice of them that shout for the mastery
and that cry for being overcome" (Exodus 32:17-18). The
triumphant shout of the foe in the temple is similarly
compared to the joyous thanksgivings formerly offered there
at solemn feasts, but how sad the contrast as to the
occasion (Lamentations 2:7). The two silver trumpets were
used by the priests to call an assembly, and for the
journeying of the camps, and on jubilant occasion (Numbers
10:1-10; 2 Chronicles 13:12). (On the rams' (rather Jubilee)
horns of Joshua 6, see HORNS.) The instruments at
Nebuchadnezzar's dedication of his golden image were the
"cornet," like the French horn; "flute" or pipe blown at the
end by a mouthpiece; "sackbut," a triangular stringed
instrument with short strings, in a high sharp key;
"psaltery," a kind of harp; "dulcimer," a bagpipe, emitting
a plaintive sound, a Hebraized Greek word, sumfonia (Daniel
3:4).
The schools of the prophets cultivated music as a
study preparing the mind for receiving spiritual influences
(1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 19:19-20): at Naioth; also at
Jericho (2 Kings 2:5; 2 Kings 2:7), "when the minstrel among
Jehoshaphat's retinue played, the hand of Jehovah came upon
Elisha" (2 Kings 3:15); Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38); Jerusalem (2
Kings 22:14). "Singing men and women" were at David's court
(2 Samuel 19:35), also at Solomon's (Ecclesiastes 2:8;
Gesenius translated for "musical instruments and that of all
sorts," shiddah wishidot, "a princess and princesses".) They
also" spoke of Josiah in their lamentations, and made them
an ordinance in Israel" (2 Chronicles 35:25).
Music was often introduced at banquets (Isaiah
5:12), "the harp and viol" (nebel, the "lute", an instrument
with 12 strings), etc. (Luke 15:25.) Amos 6:5; "chant
(parat, 'mark distinct tones,' the Arabic root expresses an
unmeaning hurried flow of rhythmical sounds without much
sense, as most glees) to the sound of the viol, and invent
to themselves instruments of music like David"; they fancy
themselves David's equals In music (1 Chronicles 23:5;
Nehemiah 12:36). He added to the temple service the stringed
psaltery, kinor ("lyre"), and nebel ("harp"), besides the
cymbals. These as distinguished from the trumpets were
"David's instruments" (2 Chronicles 29:25-26; 1 Chronicles
15:16; 1 Chronicles 15:19-21; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 1
Chronicles 23:5). The age of Samuel, David, and Solomon was
the golden one alike of poetry and of music. The Hebrew use
of music was inspirational, curative, and festive or
mournful. David's skill on the harp in youth brought him
under Saul's notice, and he played away Saul's melancholy
under the evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:16-23)...
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