We  make  our  commencement  here  with  an  explanation  of
ni^TUn  ha  in  the  superscription.  This  has  received  a  threefold
exposition.  1.  According  to  the  Chaldee  and  the  greater  num-
ber of  modern  expositors,  these  words  denote  the  instruments,
with  the  accompaniment  of  which  the  Psalm  was  to  be  publicly
performed;  rh'n  is  held  to  be  of  like  signification  with  ^^^n,
"  flute,"  to  which  it  is  supposed  to  be  related.  But  to  this  it
may  be  objected,  that  not  a  trace  of  connection  is  anywhere
else  to  be  found  between  the  two  roots ;  further,  that  the  in-
struments are  never  in  the  superscriptions  introduced  with  ^n  ;
finally,  that  the  flute,  although  it  is  named  among  the  instru-
ments of  the  disciples  of  the  prophets  in  1  Sam.  x.  5,  yet  is  never
mentioned  as  a  component  part  of  the  sacred  temple  music ;


72


THE  BOOK  OF  PSALMS.
and,  in  particular,  never  as  one  of  the  instruments  with  whi<jh
the  singing  of  the  Psnlms  was  accompanied.  For  the  most  part,
it  is  only  stringed  instruments  that  are  spoken  of  in  this  latter
respect,  comp.,  besides  the  superscriptions,  Ps.  xcii.  3,  xlix.  4,  cl. ;
the  trumpets,  which  were  used  only  in  the  solemn  songs  of  praise,
are  mentioned  in  Ps.  .\lvii.  5,  Ixxxi.  3,  xcviii.  6,  cl. ;  but  the  flute
is  never  named,  not  even  among  the  instruments  of  Ps.  cl.  2.
