Psaltery

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(play on a stringed instrument). A stringed instrument to accompany the voice, and supposed to resemble a guitar (2 Sam. 6:5; 2 Chron. 9:11). The original frequently translated “viol” (Isa. 5:12; 14:11).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The principal word used is nebel, and it is supposed to refer to some unknown form of stringed instrument used to accompany the voice. It is at times mentioned along with the harp (1 Sam. 10:5; Psa. 33:2; Psa. 144:9; Psa. 150:3). The same word is also translated VIOL (Isa. 5:12; Isa. 14:11; Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5). In Daniel 3:5-15 the word is pesanterin.

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Psalm 33:2. Sing unto him with the psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings.
These two instruments, the “psaltery” and “the instrument of ten strings” (see also Psa. 92:3; 144:9) are supposed to have been the same, the one term being used to explain the other. The shape of the nebel, or psaltery, is unknown. Some suppose it to have been like an inverted Delta, Δ Others, from the name, imagine that it was shaped like a leathern bottle, the word nebel having that signification. A skin bottle inverted and an inverted Delta would in general shape be similar, so that both ideas may be correct. Others think that it was shaped somewhat like a guitar, and that it resembled that instrument in its general style. Josephus says, “The psaltery had twelve musical notes, and was played upon by the fingers” (Antiquities, Book 7, chap. 12, § 3). These twelve “notes” are supposed to have been represented by twelve strings, whereas the texts above cited speak of but ten. It may be that the number differed in different varieties of the instrument. If we suppose these varieties to have been designated by the number of their strings, we may find the reason for the explanatory clause of the Psalmist, the kind of psaltery to which he specially refers being the one known as “the ten-stringed.” The strings, whatever their number, were stretched over a wooden frame (2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12).
When the nebel was invented and when it came into use among the Hebrews is unknown. It is first mentioned in connection with the inauguration of King Saul. When the company of young prophets met him, shortly after Samuel had anointed him, one of the instruments on which they played was the nebel (1 Sam. 10:5). It was used in Divine worship. See 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:16; 16:5; 25:1; Amos 5:23. It was also used on festive occasions. See Isaiah 5:12; 14:11; Amos 6:5. (In these last passages and in Amos 5:23, nebel is rendered viol in our English version.) From 1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:16 and Amos 5:23, it appears that the nebel was used to accompany the voice.

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