Behind | Instruments from the Ancient Near East

The images below portray various instruments used during ancient times throughout the Near East. The primary difference between a harp and a lyre is that the strings pass directly into the body of a harp but pass over a bridge in a lyre.

There are references to the Israelites using these instruments—and many more!—in  various places in the Bible, especially in the Psalms. It is clear that worship in Israel was lively and musical (cf Psalm 150).

Lyre

Harp (Egyptian)

Harp (Egyptian)

Lyre (Egyptian)

Percussion instrument (Egyptian)

Tambourine (Canaanite)

Shepherd playing a flute