The History of Music Education—part 5

The History of Music Education—part 5

            Although this Scripture passage has been shrouded in esoteric meaning for centuries current scholarship has brought this meaning to the light of clearer understanding.  We understand that the word sekel (7922) her translated the sense means that the intoning the Scripture by use of the te’amim was the ancient method of elucidating the meaning of the Scripture.  Nehemiah 8:7 states, “Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.”  This distinguished list of men which included Levite musicians taught the people i.e. a congregated unit the understanding of the Law of God by, of course, intoning the Scripture.  The word qara (7121) translated caused in this verse has a multitude of meaning in OT Scripture including to “call out”.  So these Levite musicians caused the congregation to call out the Torah by intoning it.

            With this interpretation of teaching in ancient Israel the concept of musicing Scripture adds meaning to what we believe happened in this congregation of Israelites.  We know with great certainty that tis passage of OT Scripture is a record of religious education in this culture and it is not far-fetched to piece together what the function of the ancient Levite musicians was in this account of ancient education.  They were teaching the congregation to music the Torah.

Quote for the Day

“A deep understanding can only be achieved by singing the Torah…and ‘whoever intones the Holy Scriptures in the manner of secular SONG abuses the Torah.’’’ Jewish Music in Its Historical Development, by A.Z. Idelsohn pp.35-36 (quoting B. Sanhedrin, 101a)

            Although this Scripture passage has been shrouded in esoteric meaning for centuries current scholarship has brought this meaning to the light of clearer understanding.  We understand that the word sekel (7922) her translated the sense means that the intoning the Scripture by use of the te’amim was the ancient method of elucidating the meaning of the Scripture.  Nehemiah 8:7 states, “Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.”  This distinguished list of men which included Levite musicians taught the people i.e. a congregated unit the understanding of the Law of God by, of course, intoning the Scripture.  The word qara (7121) translated caused in this verse has a multitude of meaning in OT Scripture including to “call out”.  So these Levite musicians caused the congregation to call out the Torah by intoning it.

            With this interpretation of teaching in ancient Israel the concept of musicing Scripture adds meaning to what we believe happened in this congregation of Israelites.  We know with great certainty that tis passage of OT Scripture is a record of religious education in this culture and it is not far-fetched to piece together what the function of the ancient Levite musicians was in this account of ancient education.  They were teaching the congregation to music the Torah.

Quote for the Day

“A deep understanding can only be achieved by singing the Torah…and ‘whoever intones the Holy Scriptures in the manner of secular SONG abuses the Torah.’’’ Jewish Music in Its Historical Development, by A.Z. Idelsohn pp.35-36 (quoting B. Sanhedrin, 101a)