Musical Instruments in the Book of Amos. Cover Image

Instrumenty muzyczne w Księdze Amosa.
Musical Instruments in the Book of Amos.

Author(s): Grzegorz Kubies
Subject(s): History, Jewish studies, Theology and Religion
Published by: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II - Wydział Teologii
Keywords: Old Testament; Book of Amos; music; song; musical instruments; horn; lyre; king David;

Summary/Abstract: References to music are common elements of prophetic literature, especiallyin the Books of the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel), indirectly indicating writers’ interests in that form of art. There are five musical terms mentioned in the Book of Amos: šôpär - horn (Am 2,2; 3,6), qînäh - lamentation, dirge (Am 5,1; 8,10), nëbel - probably lyre (Am 5,23; 6,5), šîr - song (Am 5,23; 6,5; 8,3.10) and Külê-šîr - instruments of song, string instruments (Am 6,5). The purpose of the article is to interpret the musical motifs excluding two related to singing in the biblical and archeomusicological contexts. Am 5,23 and 6,5 can be linked with real musical performance practices in sacred and secular environments in ancient Israel/Palestine. Am 2,2 confirms how important part in the Near East played signal aerophones, whereas Am 3,6 reflects characteristic aspects of Amos’s vocational narrative. The figure of Kind David in Am 6,5 is analyzed in the context of the origin of musical instruments. The comparative materials for Am 2,2; 3,6; 5,23 and 6,5 are mainly the prophetic Books.

  • Issue Year: 5/2015
  • Issue No: 62/1
  • Page Range: 81-94
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish