Shofar |
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The Song of the Levite |
by Dennis F. McCorkle |
As a prelude to the main body of this book, the following is presented as a general overview of the instruments found within the Hebrew scriptures. (scriptual references are included)
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Non-musical, signaling instruments String instruments Percussive instruments |
Concussive instruments Reed instruments |
Shofar |
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"My bowels, my bowels, I writhe in pain! The chambers of my heart are throbbing! My heart moans within me! I cannot keep quiet for I have heard the voice of shofar, the shout of war." - Jeremiah 4:19 |
SHOFAR (sho-fär') [H7782] 1. a non-musical signaling device made from the hollow horn of an animal and in some cases, specifically the horn of a ram. The shofar is played by buzzing the lips on the small end of an animal horn that has been cut, pierced and smoothed. As the range of an average size shofar consists of only a few playable tones, the calls that were used consisted of varying sequences of long and short tones. 2. A ram's horn.
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Exodus 19:16, 19:19, 20:18 (20:15 JPS); Leviticus 25:9 (2x); Joshua 6:4 (2x), 6:5, 6:6, 6:8 (2x), 6:9 (2x), 6:13 (3x), 6:16, 6:20, 6:20; Judges 3:27, 6:34, 7:8, 7:16, 7:18, 7:18, 7:19, 7:20 (2x), 7:22; 1 Samuel 13:3, 2 Samuel 2:28, 6:15, 15:10, 18:16, 20:1, 20:22; 1 Kings 1:34, 1:39, 1:41; 2 Kings 9:13; Isaiah 18:3, 27:13, 58:1, Jeremiah 4:5, 4:19, 4:21, 6:1, 6:17, 42:14, 51:27; Ezekiel 33:3, 33:4, 33:5, 33:6; Hosea 5:8, 8:1; Joel 2:1, 2:15; Amos 2:2, 3:6; Zephaniah 1:16; Zechariah 9:14; Psalm 47:5 (47:6 JPS), 81:3 (81:4 JPS), 98:6, 150:3; Job 39:24, 39:25; Nehemiah 4:18 (4:12 JPS), 4:20; 1 Chronicles 15:28, 2 Chronicles 15:14 (total 72 occurrences) |
Trumpets |
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"And Yahveh
spoke to Moses, saying, |
Two Silver Trumpets with related coin from the bar Kochba
revolt
TRUMPETS (chä-tsots-rot') [H2689] pl. 1. a pair of non-musical metal signaling devices used by the Levite priests to signal the breaking of camp, assembly and in conjunction with various ritual functions performed by them. Originally crafted as a pair out of a solid piece of beaten silver measuring about 45cm (17.5") in length, the instruments consisted of a mouthpiece and a straight bore body terminating in a flared bell. Sound is created by buzzing the lips on the mouthpiece and have a similar range to that of the shofar. Also like the shofar, the calls of the two silver trumpets consisted of varying sequences of long and short tones.
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Numbers 10:2, 10:8, 10:9, 10:10, 31:6; 2 Kings 11:14 (2x), 12:13 (12:14 JPS); Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:35, 12:41; Hosea 5:8 (traditionally translated as a single trumpet - chä-tsots-rä') [see asosora for alternate translation information]; Psalm 98:6; 1 Chronicles 13:8, 15:24, 15:28, 16:6, 16:42; 2 Chronicles 5:12, 5:13, 13:12, 13:14, 15:14, 20:28, 23:13 (2x), 29:26, 29:27, 29:28 (total 28 occurrences) |
Bells |
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"and they made bells of pure gold and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hems of the robe round about, between the pomegranates:" - Exodus 39:25 |
Gold Bells and Pomegranates
BELLS (pä-ä-mon') [H6472] 1. mentioned briefly in the book of Exodus; the bells (made of gold) were bell-like or clamshell ornaments sewn on the hem of the priestly robe of Aaron between decorative pomegranates. Inside the bell was most likely a clapper or small pebble that would strike the bell casing creating a tinkling sound that could be heard when the bell was shaken or excited. Although considered as a percussion instrument and an instrumental sound effect today (e.g., jingle bells), the gold bells of the Hebrew texts refer specifically to one and only one non-musical usage; to act as some type of warning signal that was used to prevent the accidental death of Aaron or his sons (i.e., the priests) when entering or leaving the chamber of the Most Holy.
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Exodus 28:33, 28:34 (2x), 39:25 (2x), 39:26 (2x) (total 7 occurrences) |
Harp |
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"Oh God, a new
song I will sing to You. |
Reconstructed ten-string Harp with related coin from the
bar Kochba revolt
HARP (në'-vël) [H5035] 1. an ancient string instrument of ten or more strings used to accompany the voice. Played in much the same manner as modern harps (by plucking the strings with the fingers), the harp was primarily considered a melodic instrument in conjunction with the Levite service-of-song and most likely doubled the melodies sung by the singers. (see The Instruments of Song: Harp for more detail in relation to the musical system of the Levites)
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1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12; Isaiah 5:12, 14:11; Amos 5:23, 6:5; Psalm 33:2, 57:8 (58:9 JPS), 71:22, 81:2 (81:3 JPS), 92:3 (92:4 JPS), 108:2 (108:3 JPS), 144:9, 150:3; Nehemiah 12:27; 1 Chronicles 13:8, 15:16, 15:20, 15:28, 16:5, 25:1, 25:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12, 9:11, 20:28, 29:25 (total 27 occurrences) |
Lyre |
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"Play to Yahveh with lyre and the sound of a melody" - Psalm 98:5 |
Reconstructed eight-string Lyre and related coin from the
bar Kochba revolt
(as viewed from the back of the instrument)
LYRE (ke-nor', khe-nor') [H3658] 1. an ancient type of stringed instrument used to accompany the voice or as a solo melodic instrument. With at least seven or possibly eight strings, the lyre was primarily considered a chording instrument in relation to the musical performances of the Levites providing the harmonic support for the singers and the harps. (see The Instruments of Song: Lyre for more detail in relation to the musical system of the Levites)
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Genesis 4:21, 31:27; 1 Samuel 10:5, 16:16, 16:23; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12; Isaiah 5:12, 16:11, 23:16, 24:8, 30:32; Ezekiel 26:13; Psalm 33:2, 43:4, 49:4 (49:5 JPS), 57:8 (57:9 JPS), 71:22, 81:2 (81:3 JPS), 92:3 (92:4 JPS), 98:5 (2x), 108:2 (108:3 JPS), 137:2, 147:7, 149:3, 150:3; Job 21:12, 30:31; Nehemiah 12:27; 1 Chronicles 13:8, 15:16, 15:28, 15:21, 16:5, 25:1, 25:3, 25:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12, 9:11, 20:28, 29:25 (total 42 occurrences) |
Ugav |
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"and his brother's name was Jubal, he was the father of all such as handle lyre and ugav" - Genesis 4:21 |
UGAV (u-gäv') [H5748] Mentioned only four times within the Hebrew texts in limited contexts, the ugav is one of the instruments in the Scriptures we know very little about. Inconsistently rendered as a string instrument in one place and some type of reed instrument in another by various translators, an exact description and classification of this instrument is not possible. Due to the references in relation to the lyre found in Genesis 4:21 and [apocrypha] Psalm 151:2 (11Q45 28:4 DSS), it may however be reasonable to assume that it was some type of string instrument.
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Genesis 4:21; Job 21:12, 30:31; Psalm 150:4, [ apocrypha] Psalm 151:2 (11Q45 28:4 DSS) (total 5 occurrences) |
Frame-drum |
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"and Miriam (the prophetess, the sister of Aaron) took the frame-drum in her hand; and all the women went out after her with frame-drums and with dances" - Exodus 15:20 |
Frame-drum
FRAME-DRUM (tof) [H8596] 1. a large, thin drum (generally associated primarily with female players) used in secular celebration and dance. The frame-drum was held with the left hand and played by striking the head of the drum with the alternating thumb and forefingers of the right hand in a rhythmic pattern.
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Genesis 31:27; Exodus 15:20 (2x); Judges 11:34; 1 Samuel 10:5, 18:6; 2 Samuel 6:5; Isaiah 5:12, 24:8, 30:32; Jeremiah 31:4; Ezekiel 28:13 ( a setting for jewelry); Nahum 2:7 (2:8 JPS); Psalm 68:25 (68:26 JPS), 81:2, 149:3, 150:4; Job 21:12; 1 Chronicles 13:8 (total 19 occurrences) |
Crotales |
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"and David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to them appoint some of their brothers as singing men with instruments of song; harps, lyres and melodic cymbals for lifting up with the voice for joy" - 1 Chronicles 15:16 |
Crotales
(aka melodic cymbals)
CROTALES (ma-tsel-tä'-yem) i.e., melodic cymbals [H4700] Exclusively referenced in relation to being played by the Levite singers, this larger variety of ancient cymbals (always referenced as a pair) were capable of producing defined pitches like our modern crotales. (see The Instruments of Song: Melodic Cymbals of the Levite Singers for more detail in relation to the musical system of the Levites)
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Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:17; 1 Chronicles 13:8, 15:16, 15:19, 15:28, 16:5, 16:42, 25:1, 25:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12, 5:13, 29:25 (total 13 occurrences) |
Cymbal Clappers/Finger Cymbals |
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"and David and all the house of Israel rejoiced before Yahveh with all kinds of cypress wood [instruments] and with lyres and with harps and with frame-drums and with shakers and with cymbals." - 2 Samuel 6:5 |
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CYMBAL CLAPPERS/FINGER CYMBALS (tsël-tsë-lim') [H6767] From the limited context within the Scriptures, this type of cymbal (briefly mentioned in 2 Samuel 6:5 and Psalm 150:5) most likely corresponded to the smaller variety of ancient cymbals found on cymbal clappers and the finger cymbals associated with Middle Eastern dance.
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Cymbal Clapper 1. A type of concussion instrument consisting of two small cymbal plates attached to a pronged, u-shape handle that when rapidly shaken causes the plates to concussively strike each other creating the rapidly oscillating rhythm referred to in the Hebrew texts as the teruah (see Miscellaneous Terms and Phrases: cymbals of teruah). Referred to in contemporary music as a cymbal castanet. |
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Finger Cymbals 1. a set of four small cymbals (i.e., two pairs) worn on the hands of Middle Eastern dancers. |
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2 Samuel 6:5; Psalm 150:5 (total 2 occurrences) |
Rattles/Shakers |
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"and David and all the house of Israel rejoiced before Yahveh with all kinds of cypress wood [instruments] and with lyres and with harps and with frame-drums and with shakersand with cymbals" - 2 Samuel 6:5 |
Rattles/Shakers
RATTLES/SHAKERS (ma-nä-än-em') [H4517] Small, handheld instruments used in celebrations and in conjunction with the dance. These simple instruments were most likely made of a hollow clay shell with pebbles, stones or nuts inside that would rattle when shook (like a baby's rattle). Contemporary instruments like shakers and maracas produce a sound that is somewhat, if not identical, to these rudimental concussion instruments and are still in common use today in Latin and popular music.
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2 Samuel 6:5 (total 1 occurrence) |
Wooden Clappers/Rhythm Bones |
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"and David and all the house of Israel rejoiced before Yahveh with all kinds of cypress wood [instruments] and with lyres and with harps and with frame-drums and with shakers and with cymbals" - 2 Samuel 6:5 |
WOODEN CLAPPERS/RHYTHM BONES (ba-khol' ä-tse' va-ro-shem') [H1265] [H6068] 1. by implication of the single text found in 2 Samuel 6:5 "with all kinds of cypress wood [instruments]" may refer to instruments like the wooden clappers and rhythm bones described below:
Clappers
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Wooden clappers |
Rhythm Bones
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Rhythm Bones |
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2 Samuel 6:5 (total 1 occurrence) |
Reed-pipe |
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"after that, you are to come to the hill of the God, where the garrison of the Philistines is. And it will occur as you come into the city, that you are going to meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, harp and frame-drum and reed-pipe and lyre before them, and they will be prophesying" - 1 Samuel 10:5 |
Arabic Mizmor
REED-PIPE (chä-lel') [H2485] [H2490] [H2485] [H2490] 1. a type of woodwind instrument of the double-reed category with a nasal, piercing tone like modern oboes and English horns. Due to the exciting flavor and timbre of the instrument and its distinctive modes, the reed-pipe was a popular instrument of the people and was used extensively in celebrations. Its unique ability to transmit emotion also made it a staple sound at funerals where it could emulate the plaintive wailing and sorrow of the mourners. Most likely a direct cousin of the reed-pipe, the Arabic mizmar (shown above) is still used in conjunction with traditional dance and celebrations.
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1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40 (2x); Isaiah 5:12, 30:29; Jeremiah 48:36 (2x); Malachi 1:12 ( profane), Psalm 87:7 (total 9 occurrences) |
Along with familiarizing ourselves with the instruments that are spoken of in the Bible, it is also important to understand the relative timeframe in which the accounts relating to the Levites and their musical system occurred. For this, let us look at a basic overview of the time periods covered by the material we will be discussing.
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The Song of the Levite |
by Dennis F. McCorkle |
