Wind instruments

The first mention of a wind instrument occurs in Genesis 4:21, where we are told that Jubal was the “father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.” The Hebrew word here translated “pipe” is ‛ūghābh. It occurs in 3 other places: Job 21:12; 30:31; Psalms 150:4. In the Hebrew version of Daniel 3:5 it is given as the rendering of sumpōnyāh, i.e. “bagpipe.” Jerome translations by organon. The ‛ūghābh was probably a primitive shepherd’s pipe or panpipe, though some take it as a general term for instruments of the flute kind, a meaning that suits all the passages cited.

The ḥālīl is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 10:5, where it is played by members of the band of prophets. It was used 1 Kings 1:40 at Solomon’s accession to the throne; its strains added to the exhilaration of convivial parties Isaiah 5:12, accompanied worshippers on their joyous march the sanctuary (Isaiah 30:29), or, in turn, echoed the feelings of mourners (Jeremiah 48:36). In 1 Maccabees 3:45, one of the features of the desolation of the temple consisted in the cessation of the sound of the pipe. From this we see that Ewald’s assertion that the flute took no part in the music of the temple is incorrect, at least for the Second the Temple.

As we should expect from the simplicity of its construction, and the commonness of its material, the flute or pipe was the most ancient and most widely popular of all musical instruments.

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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia

Keywords: Wind instruments, Jubal, pipe, bagpipe, bagpipes, flute, flutes, horn, trumpet, trumpets, wind instrument, Halil, Shophar, music, musical instrument, musical instruments, reed instruments

Bible reference(s): 1 Kings 1:40, 1 Maccabees 3:45, 1 Samuel 10:5, 1 Samuel 13:3, 2 Samuel 15:10, 2 Samuel 2:28, 2 Samuel 20:1, 2 Samuel 6:15, Amos 2:2, Amos 3:6, Daniel 3:5, Exodus 19:13, Ezekiel 28:13, Ezekiel 33:6, Genesis 4:21, Isaiah 18:3, Isaiah 30:29, Isaiah 5:12, Jeremiah 4:5, Jeremiah 48:36, Jeremiah 6:1, Job 21:12, Joshua 6:4, Judges 6:34, Leviticus 25:9, Numbers 10:2, Psalms 150:4, Psalms 5:1

Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.

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