and hymns, Col. iii. 16, Eph. v. 19, and when merry, James v. 13. Another beautiful specimen of ancient Hebrew poetry is David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. It has been thus translated, dividing the lines as in the original : O Beauty of Israel! Pierced on thine own mountains! Tell it not in Gath: Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice! On you be neither dew nor rain, Nor fields affording oblations; Since there hath been vilely cast away The shield of the mighty, the shield of Saul, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan was not held back, In their lives were united in mutual love, They were stronger than lions! Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! In the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, pierced on thine own mountains! Thy love to me was wonderful, How have the mighty fallen! : In the Paragraph Bibles, printed by the Religious Tract Society, the poetical parts are printed in lines, or with breaks, so as to show the parallelisms for which the Hebrew poetry is especially remarkable. Attention to this will be found to make the sense of many passages much more clear, and adds to their beauty. EGYPTIAN HARPS, THE SISTRUM, LUTES, AND OTHER MUSIC AND DANCING. Music was used in the worship of the Jews, and at their festivals. On occasions of rejoicing or thanksgiving both music and dancing were customary. Thus Laban spake of his desire to have sent Jacob away with the sound of the tabret and the harp, as well as songs, Gen. xxxi. 27. The prophet Isaiah mentions that the harp and the viol, the tabret and the pipe, were "in their feasts," Isa. v. 12; and, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke xv. 25, is mention of music and dancing on a private occasion of joy. They were also used to celebrate victories over enemies, as by Jephthah's daughter, Judg. xi. 34; on David's victory over Goliath, 1 Sam. xviii. 6; and on similar events. Music and dancing were also used on solemn occasions by the women, as led by Miriam after the deliverance of the Israelites and the destruction of Pharaoh's host, Exod. xv. 20, 21; on the removal of the ark by David, 2 Sam. vi. 14; and generally on sacred occasions: see Psa. cxlix. 3. But we must remember that music and dancing were also used for bad purposes. The Israelites danced when they worshipped the golden calf, Exod. xxxii. 19. The Amalekites thus rejoiced after plundering Ziklag, 1 Sam. xxx. 16. Job refers to the music and dancing of the wicked, Job xxi. 11, 12; and the dancing of the daughter of Herodias, Matt. xiv. 6, ended in the murder of John the Baptist. As to music, we may remark that David played very well upon the harp; this was blessed by God to make it the means of calming Saul, when the evil or wicked spirit troubled him, 1 Sam. xvi. 23. The prophets also called for music sometimes, when they were about to speak the words they were commanded, as Elisha, 2 Kings iii. 15. See also 1 Sam. x. 5, where we read of a company of prophets with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them. David had four thousand Levites, who praised the Lord with instruments which he caused to be made expressly for that purpose, 1 Chron. xxiii. 5. These instruments were used in the services at the temple, see 2 Chron. v. 12, vii. 6, and are mentioned in Psalm cl. 3-5. The principal instruments of music among the Jews were harps, lyres, (a sort of small harp, something like a violin,) tambourines, mouth-pipes, a sort of bagpipe, trumpets, flutes, cymbals, triangles, musical bells, and others. which cannot now be correctly ascertained. Many are enumerated as used in the worship of the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. iii. 15, but they are not all correctly described by the names used in the translation. Jubal is mentioned, Gen. iv. 21, as the father, or first teacher, of all such as handle the harp and organ. The cymbal is mentioned by the apostle, 1 Cor. xiii. 1; the sounding brass probably means a sort of trumpet. The organ, Ps. cl. 4, was formed of several pipes joined together, like what are called pan pipes. Trum pets are often mentioned. Moses was commanded to make two of silver, which were used to call the people together in the wilderness, and to give signals for their marching, Numb. x. 1, 2. These are supposed to have been straight, with bell-mouths, each about two feet long. Two such trumpets are represented on the triumphal arch of Titus at Rome, where there is a sculpture representing the table of shew-bread, candlestick, and other sacred articles of the PROCESSION SCULPTURED ON THE ARCH OF TITUS, Jews, as carried in his triumphal procession. Joshua was to make seven trumpets of rams' horns, or rather of metal, bent like rams' horns, Josh. vi. 8, though sometimes such were made of the horns of animals. It is remarkable that the heathen Romans should have given representations of several of the sacred articles of the Jews, and that these should have been preserved, while many other arches and representations commemorating their victories have been destroyed. When music is used properly, it solemnizes and affects the mind; but it is often much abused for profane and wicked purposes. This should make us very careful to shun trifling or foolish music, while there appears sufficient warrant to authorize us to use it for good purposes. Like wine, and many other gifts of God, it is too often misused; and those who cultivate this talent or ability should earnestly pray that it may not lead them into temptation, but that they may use it only for the glory of God, and in such a manner as his word permits. They should be particularly reminded of the apostle's declaration respecting singing, which may be fully applied to music: "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also," 1 Cor. xiv. 15. With respect to dancing, it is hardly necessary to say, that what is now called dancing is very different from that used by David and others. The dancing mentioned in the Bible, accompanying music on solemn occasions, was a grave, regular manner of moving, or a measured step. There certainly is not a text or passage in the Bible which justifies what is now called dancing. The dancing of the daughter of Herodias was probably something of that sort, and its evil effects are recorded. It led to the destruction of the life of a prophet, which tended to fill up the measure of iniquity of Herod and his wicked family. There are also other instances in the Bible where dancing ended badly. As for plays, or, as they are called, theatrical amusements, which often include music and dancing, it cannot be necessary to say more, than that no real Christian will be found encouraging such abominations. The apostle Paul expressly mentions revellings and such like, among the works of the flesh; and says, that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God," Gal. v. 21. The apostle Peter also condemns revellings as being contrary to the will of God, 1 Pet. iv. 3. The original word used in both these places is KOMOI, or comedies, and plainly shows that what are called plays are expressly forbidden in the word of God. PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. The ancients had many public amusements besides those already noticed, but most of them were very barbarous-quite contrary to the spirit of Christianity. The public combats with wild beasts were of this sort In them, criminals condemned to death were exposed to fight with lions, bears, wild bulls, and other savage beasts; and the people took pleasure in seeing their fellow-creatures torn to pieces by these fierce animals! The apostle Paul compares his having to withstand his enemies at Ephesus, Acts xix., to a combat of this nature, 1 Cor. xv. 32. In many passages, wicked men are spoken of as wild beasts. Herod is compared to a fox, Luke xiii. 32. Hypocrites are called |