PSALTERY, Psalterion, or Psalterium. The first of these two Words is Greek, and the other Latin, each of ‘em signifying either the Psalter, or Book of Psalms; or else, an Instrument of Musick, call’d the Psaltery. As to the Psaltery, or Instrument of the ancient Musick, of which mention is sometimes made in Scripture, we think it answers to the Hebrew Word Nebel,1 which the Septuagint generally translate by Psalterion, or Nablon. ‘Twas an Instrument of Wood, having Strings, and which was made use of, with other Instruments, in the Solemnities and Ceremonies of Religion2. It should seem, by some Passages of the Psalms, that the Nebel Psal. xxiii. 2. & cxliv. 9.was the same as the Decachord, or Instrument of Ten Strings, call’d in Hebrew Gnashur; but in other Places it is sufficiently distinguish’d from it: Upon an Instrument of Psal. cxii. 3.ten Strings, and upon the Psaltery; or upon the Nebel and the Gnashur.
Certain it is, that these two Instruments had a great Conformity to each other. The ancient Nablium was very near of the Figure of a Delta Δ, according to Saint Jerom, Cassiodorus, and Isidorus, having a hollow Hieron. in Psal. xxxi, cxlix, cl. Cassiod. Præf. in Psalm. Basil. in Psal. 1. Aug. in Psal. xxxii. Hilar. Prolog. in Psalm.Belly above, and strings stretch’d from Top to Bottom over-against this Cavity, which makes them give a Sound, when touch’d by the Finger or the Bow. The Difference observ’d by St. Basil, St. Austin, St. Hilary, and those above cited, between the Psalterion and the Cithara, is, that the Psaltery was play’d upon below, and gave its Sound above; whereas the Cythara was play’d upon above, and founded below.
These Instruments approach’d very near to our Harp. Ovid says, that the Nablium was play’d upon with both Hands. Ovid. l. 3. de Arte. Antiq. l. 8. c.2. p.262.Disce etiam duplici genialia nablia palmâ Plectere, conveniunt dulcibus illa modis.
Josephus says, that the Nablia of the Temple of Jerusalem were made of a precious Metal call’d Electrum; but the Books of 1 Kings x. Kings and the Chronicles expresly shew, 12. 2 Chron. ix. 11. Joseph. Antiq. l. 7. c. 10.that Solomon made them of Almugim or Algumim-wood, which is a Sort of Wood unknown to us. The same Josephus says, in another Place, That the Nablium had Aristor. apud Scalig. Poetic. l. 1. c.48. Juba apud Athen. l. 4. c. 25.twelve Strings, and that it was touch’d with the Fingers. Aristotle speaks of a Triangular Psaltery, the Strings of which were all equally distended. Juba, in Athenæus says, That Alexander of Cythera added several Strings to the Psaltery, and laid it up in the Temple at Ephesus, as the Master -piece of his Industry.
The modern Psaltery is a flat Instrument, of a Triangular Form: It is strung with three Rows of Strings, of Iron or Brass Wire, tuned to an Unison or to an Octave, raised upon two Bridges which are on the two Sides; these Strings are extended from Side to Side, and are play’d upon by a kind of Bow. Thus is this Instrument very different from the ancient Psaltery.
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