The study of various musical instruments that are mentioned in the Bible has been facilitated by various archaeological digs in the area of Israel and Palestine. This has led to a better understanding of what is meant by the references to lyres, drums, harps flute, pipes and rattles. Although there is no way to know what the musical compositions sounded like as accompaniment to some of the Psalms, there have been examples of the various instruments found in their historical setting. The various categories of Biblical musical instruments include chordophones, aerophones, membranophones and idiophones.
* A typical chordophone is a lyre or a harp. The Hebrew text of the Bible mentions kinnor (lyres) and nevel (harps) in connection with religious ceremonies such as those described in 1 Chronicles 16:47. A chordophone is constructed of various types of strings stretched across a surface. The strings vibrate when plucked or struck and may be amplified by the use of a resonator or sound box. Archaeological digs have found these ancient instruments similar to those that are used today in some musical compositions.
* Wind blown instruments are also found in ancient Israel. To play these instruments, the musician blows air across the opening at the instrument's end through either a double or single reed. Sometimes a mouthpiece is used such as in the use of a trumpet in order to create the sounds that are the hallmark of the instrument. In Israel and Palestine, the shofar or flute and the chalil or double pipe are typical instruments. References to these two musical products are found in Leviticus 23:24 and 1 Kings 1:40.
* Membranophones, as the name suggests, are musical instruments formed when a membrane is stretched across an opening. The membrane is then struck in order to create the sound. The drum is the most commonly accepted membranophone. A frame drum or tof is a very popular musical instrument in Palestine, Israel and other parts of the ancient Near East. The tof is described in Exodus 15:20 and 1 Samuel 18:6-7 as part of religious ceremonies. It was also a significant musical instrument during victory celebrations after battles.
* Idiophones are instruments that produce sound because of the way they are constructed or the materials that are used in construction. Rattles are a prime example of idiophones and were probably used both for religious celebrations and for toys of children. The idiophones found in archaeological sites were usually made of clay and were simple in shape. The term is found in 2 Samuel 6:5. It may refer to a rattle or to an instrument closer to a castanet. The translation of this term is one of the most uncertain of the instruments.
The musical instruments used in Biblical times such as the above examples were similar throughout the region. The examples of the melodies played on these instruments have come down to modern performers as dances, folk songs and religious celebrations. There are strong rhythmic components to such pieces, perhaps because of the influence of the idiophones and membranophones.
* A typical chordophone is a lyre or a harp. The Hebrew text of the Bible mentions kinnor (lyres) and nevel (harps) in connection with religious ceremonies such as those described in 1 Chronicles 16:47. A chordophone is constructed of various types of strings stretched across a surface. The strings vibrate when plucked or struck and may be amplified by the use of a resonator or sound box. Archaeological digs have found these ancient instruments similar to those that are used today in some musical compositions.
* Wind blown instruments are also found in ancient Israel. To play these instruments, the musician blows air across the opening at the instrument's end through either a double or single reed. Sometimes a mouthpiece is used such as in the use of a trumpet in order to create the sounds that are the hallmark of the instrument. In Israel and Palestine, the shofar or flute and the chalil or double pipe are typical instruments. References to these two musical products are found in Leviticus 23:24 and 1 Kings 1:40.
* Membranophones, as the name suggests, are musical instruments formed when a membrane is stretched across an opening. The membrane is then struck in order to create the sound. The drum is the most commonly accepted membranophone. A frame drum or tof is a very popular musical instrument in Palestine, Israel and other parts of the ancient Near East. The tof is described in Exodus 15:20 and 1 Samuel 18:6-7 as part of religious ceremonies. It was also a significant musical instrument during victory celebrations after battles.
* Idiophones are instruments that produce sound because of the way they are constructed or the materials that are used in construction. Rattles are a prime example of idiophones and were probably used both for religious celebrations and for toys of children. The idiophones found in archaeological sites were usually made of clay and were simple in shape. The term is found in 2 Samuel 6:5. It may refer to a rattle or to an instrument closer to a castanet. The translation of this term is one of the most uncertain of the instruments.
The musical instruments used in Biblical times such as the above examples were similar throughout the region. The examples of the melodies played on these instruments have come down to modern performers as dances, folk songs and religious celebrations. There are strong rhythmic components to such pieces, perhaps because of the influence of the idiophones and membranophones.