Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Observations on temple music – Song
Of the Musicke that Israel had in the Temple.
AS musicall Instruments were used with songs of old when Israel first came out of Egypt, Ex. 15. 20. and Trumpets were appointed of God at mount Sinai, which the Priests should blow over the Burnt-offerings and Sacrifices, which was an ordinance for ever, Numb. 10. 8, 10. so David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, by the Spirit of God made Hymnes and Songs, with Cymbals, Harpes and Psalteries, which the Levites in their courses should sing and play upon continually in the Sanctuary. Which melodie was heard when the Arke of God was brought into the Tent which David had pitched for it, 1 Chron. 15. 1, 16, 19, 20, 21. then all Israel brought up the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the Cornet, and with Trumpets, and with Cymbals, making a noise with Psalteries and Harps, 1 Chro. 15. 28. The Trumpets which Moses made were of silver, Numb. 10. 2. Davids Cymbals were of brasse, 1 Chron. 15. 19. the Harpes and Psalteries were of fine wood, 2 Chro. 9. 11. These are called the instruments of musicke (or of the song) of the Lord, 2 Chron. 7. 6. and David appointed them to be used continually before the Arke, 1 Chron. 16. 4, 5, 6. and divided by lot the Levites which were Musicians into foure and twenty wards, 1 Chron. 25. and they were by their courses to stand every morning to confesse and to praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, 1 Chron. 23. 30. And when Solomon had builded the Temple, he continued therein the order set by David his father; so that the Levites, Singers, and Musicians being arayed in white linnen, having Cymbals, and Psalteries and Harpes, stood at the end of the Altar, and with them an hundred and twenty Priests sounding with Trumpets; and the Trumpeters and Singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and confessing to the Lord, 2 Chron. 5. 12, 13. and 7. 6. and 8. 14. This order when it was interrupted by the sinne of the Iewes, King Ezekias restored, 2 Chron. 30. 21. that when the Burnt-offering began, the song of the Lord began also, with the Trumpets and with the Instruments ordained by David King of Israel; and all the Congregation worshipped, and the Singers sang, and the Trumpeters sounded: all this continued untill the Burnt-offering was finished, 2 Chron. 29. 27, 28. The same order of song and musicke continued in the second Temple after their returne from Babylon, as appeareth by Ezra 3. 10, 11. and Nehem. 12. 24, 27, 35, 36, 42, 45. In the Psalmes of David we finde mention also of Flutes (or Pipes) and Timbrels, and other Instruments used with songs of praise unto God, Psal. 149. 3. and 150. 3, 4, 5. The Hebrew Doctors have recorded some things more particularly thus, They said the song over all the Burnt-offerings of the Congregation, which they were bound (to offer;) and over the Peace-offerings of the solemne assemblie, at the time when the wine [the Dring-offering] was powred out. But the voluntarie Burnt-offerings which the congregation offered, and the Drinke-offerings brought for them, they said not the song over them. A Levite that mourned, might not serve or sing. And there might not be fewer then twelve Levites standing upon the banke (or stage) every day to say the song over the sacrifice; but they might alwayes have moe so many as they would. And they said not the song, but by mouth, without instrument. For the root (or foundation) of the Musicke is, that it be a service by mouth. And there were others standing there playing with instruments of Musicke. And they played on Psalteries, and Pipes, and Harpes, and Trumpets, and Cymball. There might not bee fewer than two Psalteries, nor moe than six: not fewer than two Pipes, nor moe than twelve: not fewer than two Trumpets, nor moe than an hundred and twenty; [so many as were at the dedication of the Temple, 2 Chron. 5. 12.] Not fewer than nine Harpes, but as many moe as they would: and but one Cymball onelyonly. In all the dayes of the solemne feasts, and at the new Moones, there were Priests blowing with Trumpets in the houre of the sacrifice, Numb. 10. 10. and the Levites said the song. The Trumpets were of silver, and it was not lawfull to have them of other metall. The Pipes which they played on were of Cane (or Reed.) The Psalterie (Nebel) was an instrument like a bottle, and it had strings, and they played thereon. Twelve dayes in the yeere they played on the Pipe before the Altar; at the killing of the first Passover, and at the killing of the second Passover, and in the first good day of the Passover, and in the first good day of the Retention (or Pentecost) and in the eight dayes of the Feast (of Tabernacles.) Maimony in Misn. tom. 3. in Cle hammikdash, chap. 3. and Thalmud Bab. in Erachin. chap. 2. These ordinances being ended by the comming of Christ, (who was to destroy the Citie and the Sanctuary, and to cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, Dan. 9. 26, 27.) it remaineth that now the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdome, and that wee be filled with the Spirit, speaking to our selves, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and spirituall Songs, singing with grace, and making melodie in our hearts to the Lord, Coloss. 3. 16. Ephesians 5. 18, 19.
SOLOMONS SONG OF SONGS IN ENGLISH METRE: VVITH ANNOTATIONS AND REFERENCES TO OTHER SCRIPTVRES, FOR THE EASIER VNDERSTANDING OF IT.
BY HENRY AINSWORTH.
PSAL. 45. 11. 12.
11 Heare ô daughter and see, and bend thine eare: and forget thy people, and thy fathers house.
12 And the King will covet thy beauty: for he is thy Lord, and bow-downe thy selfe to him.
EPHES. 5. 32. 23. 25. 26. 27.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speake concerning Christ and concerning the Church.
23—Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the Saviour of the body.
25—Christ also loved the Church, and gave himselfe for it:
26 That he might sanctifie and clense it with the washing of water by the word:
27 That he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Imprinted in the yeere, 1626.