Definition and Role in Biblical Times:
Musicians in the Bible were individuals skilled in the art of music, which included singing, playing instruments, and composing songs. Music played a significant role in the religious, cultural, and social life of the Israelites. It was used in worship, celebrations, and even in times of mourning.

Biblical References:

1. Worship and Temple Service:
Music was integral to worship in the temple. King David, known for his musical talent, organized the Levitical musicians for temple service. In 1 Chronicles 15:16, David instructs the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers and musicians: "David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps, and cymbals."

2. Instruments:
Various musical instruments are mentioned throughout the Bible, including the harp, lyre, trumpet, cymbals, and tambourine. Psalm 150:3-5 highlights the use of instruments in praising God: "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals."

3. Prophetic and Spiritual Significance:
Music often accompanied prophetic activity. In 2 Kings 3:15, Elisha calls for a musician to play, and as the musician plays, the hand of the LORD comes upon Elisha: "But now bring me a harpist. And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha."

4. Celebration and Victory:
Music was used to celebrate victories and significant events. After the crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam led the women in song and dance with tambourines, as recorded in Exodus 15:20-21: "Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: 'Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.'"

5. Personal and Communal Expression:
Music was a means of personal and communal expression. The Psalms, many of which were written by David, are a testament to the use of music in expressing a range of emotions, from lament to joy. Psalm 33:2-3 encourages the use of music in worship: "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy."

6. New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, music continues to play a role in worship and community life. Ephesians 5:19-20 encourages believers to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Cultural and Spiritual Impact:
Musicians held an esteemed position in biblical society, often associated with the divine and the sacred. Their role was not only to entertain but to lead the people in worship and to facilitate encounters with God through music. The legacy of biblical musicians continues to influence Christian worship practices today, emphasizing the power of music to uplift, inspire, and connect believers with the divine.3451. mousikos -- skilled in the arts (esp. music)
... singer. Word Origin from Mousa (a Muse) Definition skilled in the arts
(esp. music) NASB Word Usage musicians (1). musician. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3451.htm - 6k5059. nagan -- to touch or play a stringed instrument
... root Definition to touch or play a stringed instrument NASB Word Usage minstrel
(1), minstrel played (1), musician (1), musicians (1), play (5), play songs (1 ...
/hebrew/5059.htm - 6k

Biographies of Musicians.
... BIOGRAPHIES OF MUSICIANS. LIFE OF LISZT. With Portrait. LIFE OF HAYDN. With Portrait.
LIFE OF MOZART. With Portrait. LIFE OF WAGNER. With Portrait. ...
/.../biographies of musicians.htm

October 20, 1893
... SISTER,"I find in the Canticle of Canticles this passage which may be fitly applied
to you: "What dost thou see in thy beloved but a band of musicians in an ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/xvii october 20 1893.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Sixth Objection.
... This action of our Blessed Lord in clearing the house of hired musicians and
other people is no exception in the lest to this miracle. ...
/.../section vi answer to mr.htm

A Practical Discourse on Some Principles of Hymn-Singing
... do I see that it can ever be otherwise, for the highest music demands a supernatural
material; so that it would seem an equal folly for musicians to neglect ...
/.../a practical discourse on some.htm

Preface to the Yattendon Hymnal
... at the end of the volume, there is nothing to add here but a list of the sources
and composers in order of date, which should in the eyes of musicians go far ...
/.../preface to the yattendon hymnal.htm

The Exordium or Introduction
... As musicians make a prelude for obtaining silence and attention before they play
their selections, so orators, before they begin their cause, have specified by ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the exordium or introduction.htm

Synopsis. --Biblical Miracles the Effluence of Extraordinary Lives ...
... Through differences of vital endowment some can use color, as wonderful painters,
and others employ sound, as wonderful musicians, in ways impossible to those ...
/.../v synopsis biblical miracles the effluence.htm

A Little Sermon to School-Girls.
... school course you should return to your homes, skilled in all the sciences, possessed
of extensive knowledge of literature, fine musicians, fine artists, and ...
/.../a little sermon to school-girls.htm

The Sixth Season
... Few musicians can take an instrument and play upon it without some time and labor
to tune it; few Christians can say with David, "My heart is fixed, O God, it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vi the sixth season.htm

The Wonderful Unity of the Bible Attests Its Divine Authorship
... an immense variety of instruments playing their different parts, but producing melody
and harmony, we realize that at the back of these many musicians there is ...
/.../pink/the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter seven the wonderful unity.htm

Musicians (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Musicians (6 Occurrences). Revelation 18:22 And
the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and ...
/m/musicians.htm - 8k

Jesharelah (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Upright towards God, the head of the seventh division
of Levitical musicians (1 Chronicles 25:14). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/j/jesharelah.htm - 7k

Wait (223 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) Ambush. 9. (n.) One who watches; a watchman. 10. (vi) Hautboys, or oboes,
played by town musicians; not used in the singular. 11. ...
/w/wait.htm - 41k

Mahazioth (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Visions, a Kohathite Levite, chief of the twenty-third
course of musicians (1 Chronicles 25:4, 30). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/m/mahazioth.htm - 7k

Noise (126 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Loud or continuous talk; general talk or discussion; rumor; report. 4.
(n.) Music, in general; a concert; also, a company of musicians; a band. ...
/n/noise.htm - 41k

Jaaziel (1 Occurrence)
... ja-a'-zi-el (ya`azi'el, "God strengthens"): In 1 Chronicles 15:18, a Levite, one
of the musicians appointed to play upon instruments at the bringing up of the ...
/j/jaaziel.htm - 7k

Jehieli (2 Occurrences)
... je-hi'-el, je-hi'-e-li (yechi'el, "may God live!"): (1) A Levite, one of the musicians
appointed to play upon instruments at the bringing up of the ark by ...
/j/jehieli.htm - 9k

Jehiel (17 Occurrences)
... je-hi'-el, je-hi'-e-li (yechi'el, "may God live!"): (1) A Levite, one of the musicians
appointed to play upon instruments at the bringing up of the ark by ...
/j/jehiel.htm - 16k

Giddalti (2 Occurrences)
... GIDDALTI. gi-dal'-ti (giddalti, "I magnify (God)"): A son of Heman (1 Chronicles
25:4, 29), one of David's musicians. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/giddalti.htm - 7k

Gallery (2 Occurrences)
... or more sides of public hall or the interior of a church, and supported by brackets
or columns; -- sometimes intended to be occupied by musicians or spectators ...
/g/gallery.htm - 11k

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