When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.

• Judges 11:34

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

• 1 Kings 1:39-40

David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

• 1 Chronicles 15:16

I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more.

• Ezekiel 26:13

This quiz is about musical instruments, specifically the timbrels, harps, lyres, cymbals, trumpets, pipes, sistrums, and castanets.  We could have multiple quizzes on trumpets alone.  I focused on the other seven, but often when one musical instrument is mentioned, others are also.  Therefore, trumpets filtered into these verses.

In the break between the Questions and the Bible References, we will define these instruments.  It is amazing that some of these instruments were around before Noah’s flood.

Maybe the inspiration for this quiz is twofold.  Yesterday’s Relationship was about Korah’s rebellion.  Korah’s sons, or descendants really, were accomplished musicians and are credited with writing eleven of the psalms.  And in a recent philosophy lesson (essay), a week ago, the philosopher talked about the philosophy of art, and I followed it with a post that afternoon specifically about music.

The Questions:

#	Question	Bible Reference	Answer
1	What event contains the only reference to sistrums and castanets in the NIV?
2	One of Cain’s descendants, Jubal, was the father of those who played ‘Stringed instruments’ and what other instrument mentioned above?
3	Why did Nehemiah employ cymbals, harps, and lyres?
4	Who suggested celebrating a family’s departure with timbrels and harps?  He was probably lying because he did everything possible to keep the family from leaving.
5	At what point in the temple construction did Ezra employ trumpets and cymbals?
6	Why does Jeremiah say about timbrels and watchmen shouting “Let’s go up to Zion!”
7	At what event does Solomon employ trumpets and other instruments, specifically cymbals?
8	What is the reason for the last mention of harpists and pipers in the Bible?  Trumpeters also mentioned.
9	Besides trumpets, what does the psalmist of the last psalm in Psalms suggest we should use to praise God?  Two of the instruments above.
10	In Isaiah’s woes of Isaiah 5, he talks of the people being good at such things as harps, lyres, pipes, timbrels and wine, but the people do not regard what?

A timbrel is fairly easy.  It is basically a tambourine.

The sistrum is a clanging device.  Think of an oval on a metal rod with some cross bars loosely attached.  As you shake the rod, the cross pieces will clang against the oval that holds them.  This is thought to be an Egyptian musical instrument.

The castanets may be wood, ivory, or plastic, but they are two concave pieces held in a single hand and tapped together.  Often used today in Spanish traditional dancing.

The harp is used today.  It is often mentioned in the book of Revelation, especially with the 24 elders, but this does not mean we will sit on clouds strumming harps for eternity.  A lyre is basically a U-shaped harp.

While I gravitate toward the bagpipes, the pipe of the Bible is probably any form of reed instrument or flute type instrument.

The trumpets of the Bible were probably any form of what is now made of brass but could easily include animal horns or maybe some seashells.  And cymbals probably were then as they are now.

Bible References:

#	Question	Bible Reference	Answer
1	What event contains the only reference to sistrums and castanets in the NIV?	2 Samuel 6:5
2	Of, one of Cain’s descendants, Jubal, was the father of those who played ‘Stringed instruments’ and what other instrument mentioned above?	Genesis 4:21
3	Why did Nehemiah employ cymbals, harps, and lyres?	Nehemiah 12:27
4	Who suggested celebrating a family’s departure with timbrels and harps?  He was probably lying because he did everything possible to keep the family from leaving.	Genesis 31:27
5	At what point in the temple construction did Ezra employ trumpets and cymbals?	Ezra 3:10-11
6	Why does Jeremiah say about timbrels and watchmen shouting “Let’s go up top Zion!”	Jeremiah 31:4
7	At what event does Solomon employ trumpets and other instruments, specifically cymbals?	2 Chronicles 5:13
8	What is the reason for the last mention of harpists and pipers in the Bible?  Trumpeters also mentioned.	Revelation 18:22
9	Besides trumpets, what does the psalmist of the last psalm in Psalms suggest we should use to praise God?  Two of the instruments above.	Psalm 150:3
10	In Isaiah’s woes of Isaiah 5, he talks of the people being good at such things as harps, lyres, pipes, timbrels and wine, but the people do not regard what?	Isaiah 5:12

The longest book of the Bible, at least by chapters, is Psalms.  There are songs peppered throughout the other books of the Bible.  Rev. MacArthur, in his commentary, points out thirteen hymns in the book of Revelation.

And we will all be on key and on time when we get together to sing in Heaven.  It will be wonderful.

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The Answers:

#	Question	Bible Reference	Answer
1	What event contains the only reference to sistrums and castanets in the NIV?	2 Samuel 6:5	When King David brings the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem
2	Of, one of Cain’s descendants, Jubal, was the father of those who played ‘Stringed instruments’ and what other instrument mentioned above?	Genesis 4:21	The pipes
3	Why did Nehemiah employ cymbals, harps, and lyres?	Nehemiah 12:27	For the dedication of the wall around Jerusalem
4	Who suggested celebrating a family’s departure with timbrels and harps?  He was probably lying because he did everything possible to keep the family from leaving.	Genesis 31:27	Laban, when he chased Jacob to retrieve his household gods.
5	At what point in the temple construction did Ezra employ trumpets and cymbals?	Ezra 3:10-11	When the foundation was laid.
6	Why does Jeremiah say about timbrels and watchmen shouting “Let’s go up top Zion!”	Jeremiah 31:4	The restoration of the remnant from Samaria
7	At what event does Solomon employ trumpets and other instruments, specifically cymbals?	2 Chronicles 5:13	When the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the temple
8	What is the reason for the last mention of harpists and pipers in the Bible?  Trumpeters also mentioned.	Revelation 18:22	Babylon’s doom is final
9	Besides trumpets, what does the psalmist of the last psalm in Psalms suggest we should use to praise God?  Two of the instruments above.	Psalm 150:3	Harps and lyres
10	In Isaiah’s woes of Isaiah 5, he talks of the people being good at such things as harps, lyres, pipes, timbrels and wine, but the people do not regard what?	Isaiah 5:12	They fail to regard the deeds of the Lord and respect the works of God’s hands.

Whether you did well on this quiz or, not so well, here is The Fatal Curse of Drink sung by Jon Peterson in his Cohan review.  The words are not the same exactly as they are in an old Irish singing group’s rendition (unable to find a Youtube version), but the original was written by Charlie Case who wrote vaudeville songs that could be put to any tune practically.  The point is to make the delivery so deadpan that the words of the song speak for themselves, regardless of the tune that is used.  In the Irish version, there was a pause before each punchline, which I prefer.  Since a tambourine is mentioned in the lyrics, this was my first choice.

And two of the questions put some lyrics with the music, starting with “He is good.”  Here is the Gaither Vocal Band (my favorite four: David Phelps, Guy Penrod, Mark Lowry, and Bill Gaither), God is Good All the Time.

And thinking of timbrels, here is the London Citadel Timbrels in a 2013 performance.  Of course, the Salvation Army.

And we cannot have (or should that be canna have) a quiz about these particular musical instruments without having the “pipes.”  What better two bagpipe standards for a funeral other than Amazing Grace and Going Home.  Our grandson (not in the video) is only fourteen, but he has been asked to play the pipes at a graveside service and I am sure he will have even more opportunities.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.