Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 106:424 (Oct 1949)
Article: The Music of Israel Part 1
Author: Howard F. Vos

BSac 106:424 (Oct 49) p. 446

The Music of Israel
Part 1

Howard F. Vos

[Author’s note: It is the main purpose of this article to give practical material. For this reason many tantalizing references to Babylonian and Egyptian music have been omitted. Lack of space has, for the most part, limited this study to music of the period of Jewish history from about 1500 to about 540 B.C. The field of New Testament music is another study in itself.]

The universe in large measure follows a rhythmic pattern. The planets revolve in their orbits with perfect symmetry. Seasons as well as day and night come with great regularity. The heart throbs inside the individual with clock-like precision. From the feeling of rhythm within and the evidence of it on all sides in nature, it was a short step to man’s expression of it in music. Certainly, “music is the art of the expression of the feelings by means of rhythmical and melodious sound.”1 Early in man’s history he developed musical instruments. Jubal was the father of such as handle the harp and organ (Gen 4:21).

Later Scriptural evidence of the development of music is seen in Laban’s conversation with Jacob in which he says, “Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst thou not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?” (Gen 31:27). A casual reference to musical instruments is also made in the book of Job (which many Bible students consider to be one of the oldest books of the Bible), “They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ” (Job 21:12), which shows the performance of music as a common feat in an unsophisticated prosperous life.

In the centuries before the reign of David the use of music became more pronounced. Miriam and the women of Israel played timbrels on the east bank of the Red Sea (Exod 15); Joshua used music to bring down the walls of Jericho

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(Josh 6); Deborah celebrated the victory over Sisera with song (Judg 5); David’s playing soothed the evil spirit of Saul (1 Sam 16).

In Israel music was practiced alike at home and in the field. It certainly was not all sacred but contributed to every activity of life, such as weddings and village feasts.2 “It was David, however, who ...