That at what time ye hear the sound of the
cornet
So called of the horn of which it was made; a sort of trumpet; so
the Jews had trumpets of rams' horns: flute;
or pipe, or whistle, so called for its hissing noise; it is used
of the shepherd's pipe or whistle; see ( Zechariah
10:8 ) , harp;
an instrument of music used by David, and much in use among the
Jews, and other nations; sackbut;
or "sambuca"; which, according to Athenaeus F7, was a
four stringed instrument, an invention of the Syrians; and Strabo
F8, a Greek writer, speaks of it as a
barbarous name, as the eastern ones were reckoned by the
Grecians: psaltery;
this seems to be a Greek word, as does the next that follows,
rendered "dulcimer"; but in the original text is "symphonia";
which does not signify symphony, or a concert or consort of
music, but a particular instrument of music. Maimonides
F9 makes mention of it as a musical
instrument, among others; Servius F11 calls it an oblique
pipe; and Isidore F12 describes it a hollow piece of
wood, with leather stretched upon it, and beat upon with rods or
sticks, something like our drum: the king of Babylon might have
Grecian musicians, or, however, Grecian instruments of music, in
his court, as the Grecians had from the eastern nations:
and all kinds of music;
that could be had or thought of; and this was done in honour to
this idol, and to allure carnal sensual persons to the worship of
it, according to the order given: ye fall down and worship
the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath set up;
when they heard the music sound, immediately they were to repair
to the plain where the image stood, and pay their adoration to
it; or to fall down prostrate in their own houses in honour of
it; and perhaps persons were appointed in all cities and towns
throughout the empire to play this music; at hearing which, all
people, nations, and tongues, were to bow down, in token of their
religious regard unto it.