Song And Music In The Old Testament

Song And Music Survey Of The Old Testament Genesis 4:21 Ex 15:1-18 Joshua 6:4,20 Judges 11:34 1 Samuel 16:14-18 1 Samuel 18:6-8 1 Chronicles 15:16 1 Chronicles 25:6,7 2 Chronicles 7:6 Song of Songs 1:1 Isaiah 24:14,15 Daniel 3:5ff Ezra 2:65 Ezra 3:10,11 Nehemiah 12:45-47 => Every aspect of life.

Song And Music In The Psalms Name Hymnbook Observations from Psalms Books No titles Addressed to Historical references Instruments of David Tunes specified Michtams, maskils, shiggaion Song of Ascents ‘Praise’ used ~277 X’s in OT, ~164 in Psalms => Quantity and details indicate how important praise to the Lord should be, 145:1-3; 150:1-6

Percussion Instruments Tôph - a frame drum) Menne’îm -- a sistrum Metziltãyim or tseltselîm – cymbals, Castanets Pã‘amonim  -- bells or jingles. See pictures of these Tôph - a frame drum.

Wind Instruments Shôfãr or keren yobél -- ram or goat’s horn ûgãb -- flute Mashrôkêtã -- double oboe Keren -- horn or trumpet.  Shôfãr or keren yobél ûgãb -- the flute

String Instruments Kinnôr -- lyre Nébel - harp ãsôr — zither Pesantêrin -- psaltery (a stringed instrument triangular in shape, or dulcimer) Kãtrôs -- cithara Sabkã -- harp shaped like a ladder on a boat. See pictures of these Pesanterim - psaltery Kinnor - lyre sabka nebel - harp

In this bas relief from the palace at Nineveh, circa 7000BC,  lyre strings are struck with a wooden baton, rather than plucked with a plectrum 

Applications Song and music were important to ancient Israel in every area of life. They should be important to you in every area of your life. No one style or instrument is above another. The sheer quantity of the Psalms speaks to the importance of praise to the Lord in music and song. You should praise the Lord with your voice. You should praise the Lord with an instrument, if you play. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 150:6