Dict: easton - Music, Instrumental

easton:

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 kjv@Psalms:8; 8; 84.

(5.) Minnim kjv@Psalms:150:4), rendered "stringed instruments;" in kjv@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 and 88; supposed to be a kind of lute or guitar. Of wind instruments mention is made of,

(1.) The 'ugab kjv@Genesis:4:21; kjv@Job:21:12 kjv@Job:30:31), probably the so-called Pan's pipes or syrinx.

(2.) The qeren or "horn" kjv@Joshua:6:5; kjv@1Chronicles:25:5).

(3.) The shophar, rendered "trumpet" kjv@Joshua: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 kjv@Exodus:19:13; kjv@Numbers:10:10; kjv@Judges:7:16-18; kjv@1Samuel:13:3).

(4.) The hatsotserah, or straight trumpet kjv@Psalms:98:6; kjv@Numbers: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 ( kjv@1Samuel:10:5; kjvKings:1:40; kjv@Isaiah:5:12; kjv@Jeremiah:48:36) which is still used in Palestine.

(6.) The sumponyah, rendered "dulcimer" kjv@Daniel:3:5), probably a sort of bagpipe.

(7.) The maskrokith'a kjv@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" kjv@Exodus:15:20; kjv@Job:21:12; kjv@Psalms:68:25); also "tabret" kjv@Genesis:31:27; kjv@Isaiah:24:8; kjv@1Samuel:10:5).

(2.) The paamon, the "bells" on the robe of the high priest kjv@Exodus:28:33 kjv@Exodus:39:25).

(3.) The tseltselim, "cymbals" ( kjv@2Samuel:6:5; kjv@Psalms:150:5), which are struck together and produce a loud, clanging sound. Metsilloth, "bells" on horses and camels for ornament, and metsiltayim, "cymbals" ( kjv@1Chronicles:13:8; kjv@Ezra:3:10, etc.). These words are all derived from the same root, tsalal, meaning "to tinkle."

(4.) The menaan'im, used only in kjv@2Samuel:6:5, rendered "cornets" (R.V., "castanets"); in the Vulgate, "sistra," an instrument of agitation.

(5.) The shalishim, mentioned only in kjv@1Samuel:18:6, rendered "instruments of music" (marg. of R.V., "triangles or three-stringed instruments"). The words in kjv@Ecclesiastes:2:8, "musical instruments, and that of all sorts," Authorized Version, are in the Revised Version "concubines very many."