Music, Instrumental - Among instruments of music used by the Hebrews a principal place is given to stringed instruments. These were, (1.) The kinnor, the "harp." (2.) The nebel, "a skin bottle," rendered "psaltery." (3.) The sabbeka, or "sackbut," a lute or lyre. (4.) The gittith, occurring in the title of Ps. 8; 8; 84. (5.) Minnim ( Ps. 150:4), rendered "stringed instruments;" in Ps. 45:8, in the form minni, probably the apocopated (i.e., shortened) plural, rendered, Authorized Version, "whereby," and in the Revised Version "stringed instruments." (6.) Machalath, in the titles of Ps. 53 and 88; supposed to be a kind of lute or guitar.

Of wind instruments mention is made of, (1.) The 'ugab ( Gen. 4:21; Job 21:12; Job 30:31), probably the so-called Pan's pipes or syrinx. (2.) The qeren or "horn" ( Josh. 6:5; 1 Chr. 25:5). (3.) The shophar, rendered "trumpet" ( Josh. 6:4,Josh. 6:6,Josh. 6:8). The word means "bright," and may have been so called from the clear, shrill sound it emitted. It was often used ( Ex. 19:13; Num. 10:10; Judg. 7:16, Judg. 7:18; 1 Sam. 13:3). (4.) The hatsotserah, or straight trumpet ( Ps. 98:6; Num. 10:1-10). This name is supposed by some to be an onomatopoetic word, intended to imitate the pulse-like sound of the trumpet, like the Latin taratantara. Some have identified it with the modern trombone. (5.) The halil, i.e, "bored through," a flute or pipe (1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; Jer. 48:36) which is still used in Palestine. (6.) The sumponyah, rendered "dulcimer" ( Dan. 3:5), probably a sort of bagpipe. (7.) The maskrokith'a ( Dan. 3:5), rendered "flute," but its precise nature is unknown.

Of instruments of percussion mention is made of, (1.) The toph, an instrument of the drum kind, rendered "timbrel" ( Ex. 15:20; Job 21:12; Ps. 68:25); also "tabret" ( Gen. 31:27; Isa. 24:8; 1 Sam. 10:5). (2.) The paamon, the "bells" on the robe of the high priest ( Ex. 28:33;Ex 39:25). (3.) The tseltselim, "cymbals" (2 Sam. 6:5; Ps. 150:5), which are struck together and produce a loud, clanging sound. Metsilloth, "bells" on horses and camels for ornament, and metsiltayim, "cymbals" (1 Chr. 13:8; Ezra 3:10, etc.). These words are all derived from the same root, tsalal, meaning "to tinkle." (4.) The menaan'im, used only in 2 Sam. 6:5, rendered "cornets" (R.V., "castanets"); in the Vulgate, "sistra," an instrument of agitation. (5.) The shalishim, mentioned only in 1 Sam. 18:6, rendered "instruments of music" (marg. of R.V., "triangles or three-stringed instruments").

The words in Eccl. 2:8, "musical instruments, and that of all sorts," Authorized Version, are in the Revised Version "concubines very many."

Mustard - a plant of the genus sinapis, a pod-bearing, shrub-like plant, growing wild, and also cultivated in gardens. The little round seeds were an emblem of any small insignificant object. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament; and in each of the three instances of its occurrence in the New Testament ( Matt. 13:31,Matt. 13:32; Mark 4:31, Mark 4:32; Luke 13:18, Luke 13:19) it is spoken of only with reference to the smallness of its seed. The common mustard of Palestine is the Sinapis nigra. This garden herb sometimes grows to a considerable height, so as to be spoken of as "a tree" as compared with garden herbs.

Muth-labben - occurring only in the title of Psalm 9. Some interpret the words as meaning "on the death of Labben," some unknown person. Others render the word, "on the death of the son;" i.e., of Absalom (2 Sam. 18:33). Others again have taken the word as the name of a musical instrument, or as the name of an air to which the psalm was sung.

Muzzle - Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being spread out on a floor, over which oxen and cattle are driven to and fro, till the grain is trodden out. Moses ordained that the ox was not to be muzzled while thrashing. It was to be allowed to eat both the grain and the straw ( Deut. 25:4). (See AGRICULTURE.)

Myra - one of the chief towns of Lycia, in Asia Minor, about 2 1/2 miles from the coast ( Acts 27:5). Here Paul removed from the Adramyttian ship in which he had sailed from Caesarea, and entered into the Alexandrian ship, which was afterwards wrecked at Melita ( Acts 27:39-44).

Myrrh - Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil ( Ex. 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus ( Matt. 2:11). It was used in embalming ( John 19:39), also as a perfume ( Esther 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17). It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion "wine mingled with myrrh" to produce insensibility. This drugged wine was probably partaken of by the two malefactors, but when the Roman soldiers pressed it upon Jesus "he received it not" ( Mark 15:23). (See GALL.)

This was the gum or viscid white liquid which flows from a tree resembling the acacia, found in Africa and Arabia, the Balsamodendron myrrha of botanists. The "bundle of myrrh" in Cant. 1:13 is rather a "bag" of myrrh or a scent-bag.

(2.) Another word lot is also translated "myrrh" ( Gen. 37:25;Gen 43:11; R.V., marg., "or ladanum"). What was meant by this word is uncertain. It has been thought to be the chestnut, mastich, stacte, balsam, turpentine, pistachio nut, or the lotus. It is probably correctly rendered by the Latin word ladanum, the Arabic ladan, an aromatic juice of a shrub called the Cistus or rock rose, which has the same qualities, though in a slight degree, of opium, whence a decoction of opium is called laudanum. This plant was indigenous to Syria and Arabia.

Myrtle - ( Isa. 41:19; Neh. 8:15; Zech. 1:8), Hebrew hadas, known in the East by the name as, the Myrtus communis of the botanist. "Although no myrtles are now found on the mount (of Olives), excepting in the gardens, yet they still exist in many of the glens about Jerusalem, where we have often seen its dark shining leaves and white flowers. There are many near Bethlehem and about Hebron, especially near Dewir Dan, the ancient Debir. It also sheds its fragrance on the sides of Carmel and of Tabor, and fringes the clefts of the Leontes in its course through Galilee. We meet with it all through Central Palestine" (Tristram).

Mysia - a province in the north-west of Asia Minor. On his first voyage to Europe ( Acts 16:7,Acts 16:8) Paul passed through this province and embarked at its chief port Troas.

Mystery - the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated ( Eph. 1:9,Eph. 1:10;Eph 3:8-11; Col. 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence ( Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union ( Eph. 5:31,Eph. 5:32; comp. 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks ( Rev. 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet ( Rev 17:7), are also in this sense mysteries. The anti-Christian power working in his day is called by the apostle (2 Thess. 2:7) the "mystery of iniquity."

Naam - pleasantness, one of the three sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh (1 Chr. 4:15).

Naamah - the beautiful. (1.) The daughter of Lamech and Zillah (Gen. 4: 22).

(2.) The daughter of the king of Ammon, one of the wives of Solomon, the only one who appears to have borne him a son, viz., Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:21,1 Kings 14:31).

(3.) A city in the plain of Judah ( Josh. 15:41), supposed by some to be identified with Na'aneh, some 5 miles south-east of Makkedah.

Naaman - pleasantness, a Syrian, the commander of the armies of Benhadad II. in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He was afflicted with leprosy; and when the little Hebrew slave-girl that waited on his wife told her of a prophet in Samaria who could cure her master, he obtained a letter from Benhadad and proceeded with it to Joram. The king of Israel suspected in this some evil design against him, and rent his clothes. Elisha the prophet hearing of this, sent for Naaman, and the strange interview which took place is recorded in 2 Kings 5. The narrative contains all that is known of the Syrian commander. He was cured of his leprosy by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of Elisha. His cure is alluded to by our Lord ( Luke 4:27).

Naamathite - the designation of Zophar, one of Job's three friends ( Job 2:11;Job 11:1), so called from some place in Arabia, called Naamah probably.

Naarah - a girl, the second of Ashur's two wives, of the tribe of Judah (1 Chr. 4:5,1 Chr. 4:6).

Naarai - youthful, a military chief in David's army (1 Chr. 11:37), called also Paarai (2 Sam. 23:35).

Naaran - boyish, juvenile, a town in Ephraim between Bethel and Jericho (1 Chr. 7:28).

Naarath - girl, a town on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin ( Josh. 16:7), not far probably from Jericho, to the north (1 Chr. 7:28).

Nabal - foolish, a descendant of Caleb who dwelt at Maon (1 Sam. 25), the modern Main, 7 miles south-east of Hebron. He was "very great, and he had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats...but the man was churlish and evil in his doings." During his wanderings David came into that district, and hearing that Nabal was about to shear his sheep, he sent ten of his young men to ask "whatsoever cometh unto thy hand for thy servants." Nabal insultingly resented the demand, saying, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse?" (1 Sam. 25:10,1 Sam. 25:11). One of the shepherds that stood by and saw the reception David's messengers had met with, informed Abigail, Nabal's wife, who at once realized the danger that threatened her household. She forthwith proceeded to the camp of David, bringing with her ample stores of provisions 1 Sam 25:18). She so courteously and persuasively pled her cause that David's anger was appeased, and he said to her, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me."

On her return she found her husband incapable from drunkenness of understanding the state of matters, and not till the following day did she explain to him what had happened. He was stunned by a sense of the danger to which his conduct had exposed him. "His heart died within him, and he became as a stone." and about ten days after "the Lord smote Nabal that he died" (1 Sam. 25:37,1 Sam. 25:38). Not long after David married Abigail (q.v.).

Naboth - fruits, "the Jezreelite," was the owner of a portion of ground on the eastern slope of the hill of Jezreel (2 Kings 9:25,2 Kings 9:26). This small "plat of ground" seems to have been all he possessed. It was a vineyard, and lay "hard by the palace of Ahab" (1 Kings 21:1,1 Kings 21:2), who greatly coveted it. Naboth, however, refused on any terms to part with it to the king. He had inherited it from his fathers, and no Israelite could lawfully sell his property ( Lev. 25:23). Jezebel, Ahab's wife, was grievously offended at Naboth's refusal to part with his vineyard. By a crafty and cruel plot she compassed his death. His sons also shared his fate (2 Kings 9:26; 1 Kings 21:19). She then came to Ahab and said, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." Ahab arose and went forth into the garden which had so treacherously and cruelly been acquired, seemingly enjoying his new possession, when, lo, Elijah suddenly appeared before him and pronounced against him a fearful doom (1 Kings 21:17-24). Jehu and Bidcar were with Ahab at this time, and so deeply were the words of Elijah imprinted on Jehu's memory that many years afterwards he refers to them (2 Kings 9:26), and he was the chief instrument in inflicting this sentence on Ahab and Jezebel and all their house 2 Kings 9:30-37). The house of Ahab was extinguished by him. Not one of all his great men and his kinsfolk and his priests did Jehu spare 2 Kings 10:11).

Ahab humbled himself at Elijah's words (1 Kings 21:28,1 Kings 21:29), and therefore the prophecy was fulfilled not in his fate but in that of his son Joram (2 Kings 9:25).

The history of Naboth, compared with that of Ahab and Jezebel, furnishes a remarkable illustration of the law of a retributive providence, a law which runs through all history (comp. Ps. 109:17, Ps. 109:18).

Nachon - prepared, the owner of a thrashing-floor near which Uzzah was slain (2 Sam. 6:6); called also Chidon (1 Chr. 13:9).

Nadab - liberal, generous. (1.) The eldest of Aaron's four sons ( Ex. 6:23; Num. 3:2). He with his brothers and their father were consecrated as priests of Jehovah ( Ex. 28:1). He afterwards perished with Abihu for the sin of offering strange fire on the altar of burnt-offering ( Lev. 10:1,Lev. 10:2; Num. 3:4; Num 26:60).

(2.) The son and successor of Jeroboam, the king of Israel (1 Kings 14:20). While engaged with all Israel in laying siege to Gibbethon, a town of southern Dan ( Josh. 19:44), a conspiracy broke out in his army, and he was slain by Baasha (1 Kings 15:25-28), after a reign of two years (B.C. 955-953). The assassination of Nadab was followed by that of his whole house, and thus this great Ephraimite family became extinct (1 Kings 15:29).

(3.) One of the sons of Shammai in the tribe of Judah (1 Chr. 2:28,1 Chr. 2:30).

Nagge - illuminating, one of the ancestors of Christ in the maternal line ( Luke 3:25).

Nahaliel - possession, or valley of God, one of the encampments of the Israelites in the wilderness ( Num. 21:19), on the confines of Moab. This is identified with the ravine of the Zerka M'ain, the ancient Callirhoe, the hot springs on the east of the Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea.

Nahallal - pasture, a city in Zebulun on the border of Issachar ( Josh. 19:15), the same as Nahalol ( Judg. 1:30). It was given to the Levites. It has been by some identified with Malul in the plain of Esdraelon, 4 miles from Nazareth.