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 4:211 voice

   “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.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 4:21→

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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

   “Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me?....

   “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

   “12. A hill is the height of a mountain. What is more rightly understood by this hill than the holy intent of the Scriptures? It is indeed the height of a mountain, because it does not lie on the plain of the letter, but is exceedingly elevated in the sublimity of spiritual meanings. The untrained preacher therefore sets out on the right path of virtues if, after he has seen the public preachers and the secluded anchorites, he sees and recognizes the height of Scripture.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 10:5→

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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 16:161 voice

   “Let our Lord now command thy servants which are before thee,....

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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 16:231 voice

   “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?

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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 returned after striking down the Philistine, etc., the Lord, having returned after defeating the ancient enemy through His suffering and appearing in the glory of resurrection to His chosen ones, the glory of this triumph having been spread throughout Judea, the lowly souls, …

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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

   “And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house,....

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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

   “We read in the first book of Paralipomena that when the prophet David grew old in years devoted to the Lord, he chose four thousand young men from the people of Israel to render the psalms, which he had composed through the Lord's inspiration, so …

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 25:1–7→

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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.

    ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 5:121 voice

    “A hundred and twenty priests - Cymbals, psalteries, and harps, of any kind, in union with a hundred and twenty trumpets or horns, could not produce much harmony; as to melody, that must have been impossible, as the noise was too great.

    Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 5:12→

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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.

    ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:281 voice

    “And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets,.... The three principal instruments of music used in singing the praises of God; these they played upon as they came to the city, and entered it, and passed through it: unto the house of the Lord; the temple, there to offer praise and thanksgiving again.

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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 29:252 voices

    “And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps,....

    “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-

    Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 29:25→

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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 12:271 voice

    “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 …

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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 like a flock,....

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