OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE WAS SUNG

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE WAS SUNG 

            Singing was without doubt the most important component of music recorded in the Old Testament.  However, vocal music often had strong implications of instrumental involvement.  Serious students of Jewish History agree that all Old Testament Scripture was intended to be sung.  "In the temple and synagogue alike, portions from the Law, prophets and writings were chanted (as they are today in Jewish communities)."   Wheeler, A & B Research Vol. II, No. 1, winter 1989,p. 12.

            The music of the Bible was useful music, but it ultimately had a much higher meaning.  Because of its close connection to the "Word of Jehovah" it had a special ethical meaning that the music of other ancient cultures did not have.  Alfred Sendrey stated,

            In spite of the fact that music among the Hebrews did represent essentially "utilitarian music" (though in a higher sense), it is not wholly expressed by "activity" and "cooperation."  Nor, even though explicitly manifest, are the principles of "enjoyment" and "aesthetic pleasure" the decisive criteria in Jewish music.  The roots of the Jewish musical art go deeper; its ultimate meaning can rather be found in the spiritual, ethical sphere.  Sendrey, Alfred. Music in the Social and Religious Life of Antiquity p. 167.

            “In Ancient Israel, music--especially singing--meant:  to serve God, to exalt God with sounds.  Singing, in whatever form, is for the Jew the religious creed expressed in sounds, the palpable affirmation of his close connection with the Eternal, the union in harmonious sounds of the Creator with his creation” ibid. p. 167.          In this light, there is little wonder that singing was so important in ancient Israel.  Since all Old Testament Scripture was intended to be sung, the vocal melodies became vehicle for the Word of Jehovah.  As I explained in chapter eight of my Book Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective, the melodies of both the prosaic and psalmodic portions of the Old Testament were sensible, basically diatonic and chromatic, beautiful and quite artistic.

             So, Bible melodies were easily sung because of their musical economy and practicality.  The Talmud testifies to the importance of these tunes.  According to Idelsohn, "The Talmud says that the Bible should be read in public and made understood to the hearers in a musical, sweet tune.  And he who reads the Pentateuch without tune shows disregard for it and the vital value of its laws."  Idelsohn, Abraham. Jewish Music in Its Historical Development.  p.33 quoting Talmud - B Megilla, 32a.  It should be pointed out that reading and singing were synonymous in the minds of the ancient commentators.  Therefore, ancient writings, the Hebrew text of the Bible included, often give the same meaning to reading and saying i.e. intoning or chanting or singing of these ancient Scriptures. What has over the many centuries become esoteric reference was universally understood in ancient times.