Harp

How Nave’s arranged it

• A stringed instrument of musicIsaiah 38:20Ezekiel 33:32Habakkuk 3:19
• With three strings (margin)1 Samuel 18:6
• Ten stringsPsalms 33:2Psalms 92:3Psalms 144:9Psalms 150:4
• Originated with JubalGenesis 4:21
• Made of almug wood1 Kings 10:12
• David skillful in manipulating1 Samuel 16:161 Samuel 16:23
• Used in worship1 Samuel 10:51 Chronicles 16:51 Chronicles 25:1–72 Chronicles 5:122 Chronicles 5:132 Chronicles 29:25Psalms 33:2Psalms 43:4Psalms 49:4Psalms 57:8Psalms 71:22Psalms 81:2Psalms 92:3Psalms 98:5Psalms 108:2Psalms 147:7Psalms 149:3Psalms 150:3
• Used, in national jubilees, after the triumph over Goliath, (margin)1 Samuel 18:6
• Over the armies of Ammon and Moab with 20:20-292 Chronicles 20:28
• When the new walls of Jerusalem were dedicatedNehemiah 12:27Nehemiah 12:36
• Used in festivitiesGenesis 31:27Job 21:11Job 21:12Isaiah 5:12Isaiah 23:16Isaiah 24:8Isaiah 30:32Ezekiel 26:13Revelation 18:22
• In mourningJob 30:31

The passages, in Bible order (53)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 4:21

   And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:212 voices

   “And his brother's name was Jubal,.... This was another son of Lamech by Adah, and his name differs only in one letter from his brother's: he was the father of all such that handle the harp and organ: he was the inventor of instrumental music, both of stringed instruments, such as were touched by the fingers, or struck with a quill, as the "harp"; and of wind instruments, such as were blown, as the "organ", which seems not to be the same we call so, being a late invention; but however a pleasant instrument, as its name signifies.

   “Jubal - the father - i.e. The inventor of musical instruments, such as the כנור kinnor, which we translate harp, and the עוגב ugab, which we render organ; it is very likely that both words are generic, the former including under it all stringed instruments, and the latter, all wind instruments.

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2. Genesis 31:27

   Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 31:272 voices

   “Considering the past conduct of Laban, his complaint on this ground was hypocritical cant. But his second charge was a grave one--the carrying off his gods--Hebrew, "teraphim," small images of human figures, used not as idols or objects of worship, but as talismans, for superstitious purposes.

   “I might have sent thee away with mirth - בשמחה, besimchah, with rejoicing, making a feast or entertainment on the occasion; and with songs, בשרים beshirim, odes either in the praise of God, or to commemorate the splendid acts of their ancestors; with tabret, בתף bethoph, the tympanum used in the east to the present day, and there called diff, a thin broad wooden hoop, with parchment extended over one end of it, to which are attached small pieces of brass, tin, etc., which make a jingling noise; it is held in the air with one hand, and beat on with the fingers of the other.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 31:27→

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3. 1 Samuel 10:5

   After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:51 voice

   “Prophets - By prophets he understands persons that wholly devoted themselves to religious studies and exercises. For the term of prophesying is not only given to the most eminent act of it, foretelling things to come; but also to preaching, and to the making or singing of psalms, or songs of praise to God.

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4. 1 Samuel 16:16

   Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:162 voices

   “The medicinal effects of music on the mind and body, especially as appeasing anger, and soothing and pacifying a troubled spirit, are well known. It is deeply interesting to have the youthful David thus brought before us, as using music for its highest purpose, that of turning the soul to the harmony of peace and love. We may infer that some of his Psalms, such e. g. as Psa 23:1-6, were already composed.

   “It will be no less than a miracle of divine grace if those who thus agree with Satan ever break off from him again. One of his servants recommended David to him, as a fit person to be employed in the use of these means, little imagining that he was the man whom Samuel meant when he told Saul of a neighbour of his, better than he, who should have the kingdom, ch. xv.

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5. 1 Samuel 16:23

   And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:232 voices

   “For neither is this to be lightly regarded, that, when an adverse spirit entered into Saul, David took his harp and assuaged his madness. For what is intimated by Saul but the elation of men in power, and what by David but the humble life of the holy?

   “Only his instrumental music with his harp is mentioned, but it should seem, by the account Josephus gives, that he added vocal music to it, and sung hymns, probably divine hymns, songs of praise, to his harp. David's music was Saul's physic. [1.] Music has a natural tendency to compose and exhilarate the mind, when it is disturbed and saddened.

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6. 1 Samuel 18:6

   As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:61 voice

   “When David was returned - This verse connects well with the 54th verse of the preceding chapter; and carries on the narration without any break or interruption. See the notes on 1Sa 17:

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 18:6→

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7. 1 Kings 10:12

   The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen to this day.)

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 10:121 voice

   “Pillars - The Hebrew word signifies ordinarily a “prop” (margin). It is generally supposed to mean in this place a “railing,” or “balustrade,” a sense which connects and harmonises the present passage with the parallel passage in Chronicles (marginal reference), where Solomon is said to have made of the almug-wood “stairs” for the temple and for his own house. Harps - The Jewish harp כנור kı̂nnôr was of a triangular shape, and had ordinarily ten strings.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 10:12→

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8. 1 Chronicles 16:5

   Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 16:51 voice

   “Asaph the chief,.... Of those that were now appointed: otherwise, of the three principal singers, Heman was the chief, and Asaph next, 1Ch 6:33. and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, with psalteries, and with harps; to play upon them before the ark at the same time the psalms and songs were vocally sung; the above persons are such as are named before, 1Ch 15:18, but Asaph made a sound with cymbals; he struck and played upon them, see 1Ch 15:19.

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 16:5→

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9. 1 Chronicles 25:1–7

   Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 25:1–71 voice

   “David and the captains of the host - The chiefs of those who formed the several orders: not military captains. Should prophesy - Should accompany their musical instruments with prayer and singing.

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10. 2 Chronicles 5:12

    all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

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11. 2 Chronicles 5:13

    The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud

    ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 5:131 voice

    Even the house of the Lord - Or, according to another reading (Septuagint), which removes the superfluousness of these words - “The house was filled with a cloud of the glory of the Lord.”

    Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 5:13→

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12. 2 Chronicles 20:28

    So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

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13. 2 Chronicles 29:25

    Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

    ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 29:251 voice

    “With cymbals, with psalteries - Moses had not appointed any musical instruments to be used in the divine worship; there was nothing of the kind under the first tabernacle. The trumpets or horns then used were not for song nor for praise, but as we use bells, i.e., to give notice to the congregation of what they were called to perform, etc. But David did certainly introduce many instruments of music into God’s worship, for which we have already seen he was solemnly reproved by the prophet Amos, Amo 6:1-

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14. Nehemiah 12:27

    At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.

    ›Commentary on Nehemiah 12:272 voices

    “At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, etc. The city had already been built for some time, but it was not fitting to dedicate it until inhabitants were gathered, appropriate ministers for the temple were assigned, and guards were appointed for the gates and …

    “The dedication of the wall - The ceremony had been deferred for the space of nearly 12 years Neh 13:6. Perhaps Nehemiah required an express permission from the Persian king before he could venture on a solemnity which might have been liable to misrepresentation. Out of all their places - i. e., out of the various cities of Judah and Benjamin in which they dwelt Neh 11:36.

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15. Nehemiah 12:36

    and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.

    ›Commentary on Nehemiah 12:361 voice

    “And his brethren,.... The brethren of Zechariah, the priest's son, and such are those that follow: Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; which were invented by him, and ordered by him to be used in religious service, under the divine direction: and Ezra the scribe before them; for he being a priest also, and a man of great eminence, was placed at the head of them in this procession.

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16. Job 21:11

    They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,

    ›Commentary on Job 21:112 voices

    "And their children play before them, taking up the psaltery and harp." Our children take up the psaltery and the harp, praising and glorifying God. But "their [the heretics'] children," who are foolish in themselves, also "play taking up the psaltery and the harp." Every time they usurp the words of the Old Testament, they play and mock the oracles of the Law and the Prophets. By taking up the harmonies that were once the psaltery of the law and the prophetic harp, they play with them.

    “They send forth their little ones - Their numerous and happy children they send forth to plays and pastimes. Like a flock - In great numbers. This is an exquisitely beautiful image of prosperity. What can be more so than a group of happy children around a man’s dwelling? And their children dance - Dance for joy. They are playful and sportive, like the lambs of the flock.

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