A. morsel,
bit, ps. andromeoi gobbets
of man's flesh, Od.9.374,
cf. Amips.19.2
(anap.), X.Mem.3.14.5,
Pericles ap. Arist. Rh.1407a2,
Plb.30.26.6;
“ps. artou” LXXJd.19.5, al. (ps. alone, Ru.2.14).
Freed-Hardeman
University
- Bill Swetmon - Psallo and Josephus
Bill
Swetmon: Preachers Forum 1991 mishandles Josephus
to prove that PSALLO authorizes instrumental music. The
careless
promoters of instrumental music in non-musical churches still rely on
this forum so
that "opinion" permitted to stand by FHU becomes
authority or even a command for instrumental music.
NACC 2013 Victorius: Willing to sow discord after more than a hundred years based on the word PSALLO which is really the MARK left by Paul for those who cannot read the phrase "Making Melody IN the Heart."
NACC.Transitioning.Jeff.Walling.to.Instrumental.html
See the two major PSALLO words which are never DEFINED. Instead, I will show how the words are used having several meanings. If we twang a bowstring to send forth a singing arrow into a literal heart then PSALLO would obligate the instrumentalists because there is very little about twanging a HARP string and then the examples are ugly or even forbidden.
Lynn Anderson The Beginning of Musical Idolatry
Danny Corbitt and Matt Dabbs Psallo
John T. Willis 2. "Sing" is vocal; "make melody" is instrumental. Psalms 33:2-3; 144:9; 149:1, 3 make this crystal clear. Amos 5:23 further verifies this reality. People forget that God turned Israel over to worship the starry host because of musical idolatry at Mount Sinai. The Levites were under the KING and the COMMANDERS of the army: they made war and not worship. We will examine these passages in context.
Danny Corbitt Refuting Everett Ferguson Psallo, Psalmos, Psalmus, Psalma
David Faust Papers
A Ralph John Psallo and Psalmos
A. Ralph Johnson: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, SACRED OR SINFUL
Does PSALLO Authorize Musical Instruments
Dwayne N Dunning and Ray Downing.
The "speaking" connected with tongues outlaws instruments: when you speak the LOGOS it is opposite to music.
Ephesians 4 Unity in Diversity
Ephesians 5 Singing amd Making Melody
Clangs and Gongs in the Classics
Ephesians 6 We Wrestle not with Musical Instruments.
See That David in the Psalms agrees with all eviidence: that the Psalms were to be NARRATED to tell the story of GOD and the purpose was to INSTRUCT. All of the historic information proves that the synagogue, as a School of the Word, always used a system of accenting the prosody to make it impossible for anyone to make commentary by the tone of their voice and especially setting it to meter.
SEE A NEW WORD STUDY WITH GREEK LITERARY USAGE. 11.18.10
Some links to the Greek texts have been changed on me: I will update..
See Danny Corbitt in Missing More than Music who appeals to Josephus.
See A. Ralph Johnson on the Josephus Fallacy
It is used to mean SING ONLY in the entire Bible.
When playing an instrument is meant it is included:
all instrument playing Greek words are compound words.
PSALLO means to pluck or smite a string with your fingers and NEVER with a plectrum. That is because the word for "shooting forth hymns" was used of making the bow string twang to send forth a singing arrow.
Will the Real
Josephus Please Stand
Up
Now, look where Bill Swetmon, at Freed Hardeman University, points in Josephus and see whether you want to follow Bill and crowd and "go thou and do likewise."
NACC 2013 Victorius: Willing to sow discord after more than a hundred years based on the word PSALLO which is really the MARK left by Paul for those who cannot read the phrase "Making Melody IN the Heart."
NACC.Transitioning.Jeff.Walling.to.Instrumental.html
See the two major PSALLO words which are never DEFINED. Instead, I will show how the words are used having several meanings. If we twang a bowstring to send forth a singing arrow into a literal heart then PSALLO would obligate the instrumentalists because there is very little about twanging a HARP string and then the examples are ugly or even forbidden.
Lynn Anderson The Beginning of Musical Idolatry
Danny Corbitt and Matt Dabbs Psallo
John T. Willis 2. "Sing" is vocal; "make melody" is instrumental. Psalms 33:2-3; 144:9; 149:1, 3 make this crystal clear. Amos 5:23 further verifies this reality. People forget that God turned Israel over to worship the starry host because of musical idolatry at Mount Sinai. The Levites were under the KING and the COMMANDERS of the army: they made war and not worship. We will examine these passages in context.
Danny Corbitt Refuting Everett Ferguson Psallo, Psalmos, Psalmus, Psalma
David Faust Papers
A Ralph John Psallo and Psalmos
A. Ralph Johnson: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, SACRED OR SINFUL
Does PSALLO Authorize Musical Instruments
Dwayne N Dunning and Ray Downing.
The "speaking" connected with tongues outlaws instruments: when you speak the LOGOS it is opposite to music.
Ephesians 4 Unity in Diversity
Ephesians 5 Singing amd Making Melody
Clangs and Gongs in the Classics
Ephesians 6 We Wrestle not with Musical Instruments.
See That David in the Psalms agrees with all eviidence: that the Psalms were to be NARRATED to tell the story of GOD and the purpose was to INSTRUCT. All of the historic information proves that the synagogue, as a School of the Word, always used a system of accenting the prosody to make it impossible for anyone to make commentary by the tone of their voice and especially setting it to meter.
SEE A NEW WORD STUDY WITH GREEK LITERARY USAGE. 11.18.10
Some links to the Greek texts have been changed on me: I will update..
See Danny Corbitt in Missing More than Music who appeals to Josephus.
See A. Ralph Johnson on the Josephus Fallacy
See Tom Burgess and more data on PSALLO as a WARFARE and not a MUSICAL word.
This will connect you to the UNholy trinity of those who use ANTI-instrumental music as a curse word.
During the 1991 preachers forum at Freed-Hardeman University, "neutral"-instrumental music speaker, Bill Swetmon, made many arguments as a "Pro-Instrumentalist" which did not get answered. The book published as a result of the Preacher Forum is still used as an authority to prove that God permits, nay demands, that we sing with a harp. I will try to restrict this paper to telling the rest of the story from history and from Josephus who is Swetmon's authority:
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FIRST LOOK AT THE INTERMEDIATE
LEXICON AS SUMMARY.
You will note that a different form of the word is used for SINGING in the Old and New Testament: In Psalm 41 it was prophesied that Judas would not be able to triumph over Messiah: that act is excluded from the synagogue and excludes "vocal or instrumental rejoicing" including elevated forms of speech. The Judas bag was always attached to a flute case for carrying the mouth pieces of wind instruments. At the last supper Jesus had ground the SOP for him as the mark that Satan had entered him. Psaō Psallo by itself just means to PULL with your
fingers and
NEVER with a plectrum. In a GODLY sense as used in the Bible it is
always translated
as to sing. While Apollo (the Psallo message)
plucked his lyre to shoot
forth love arrows, the godly people used it for the
"shooting" word in
"shooting forth hymns."
Psallō , 1 Cor 14:15 ti oun estin; proseuxomai tō pneumati, proseuxomai de kai tō noi: psalō tō pneumati, psalō de kai tō noi: SECOND—pluck,
pull, twitch, ps. etheiran pluck
the hair, A.Pers.1062: Xerxēs
Aesch. Pers. 1060
THIRD:
Psallo is primarily
making war: grinding the enemy into SOP. ESPECIALLY of
the bow-string, toxōn kheri psallousi neuras twang
them, E.Ba.784;
“kenon kroton” Lyc.1453; ek keraos ps. belos send a
shaft twanging
from the bow, ; Why would Christ the Spirit permit a VIOLENCE and POLLUTION--LADEN word to be used to permit evil people to ATTACK His people when He died to give them REST from religion? FOURTH: so
miltokharēs skhoinos psallomenē a carpenter's
red l
Phurô FIFTH “gunaikas ex andrōn psogos psallei, kenon toxeuma”
SIXTH: never "MEANS" to PLAY
on a HARP: Psallo means pluck but you must
define WHAT is to be
plucked. You will find that all of these
are of the gender
confused. II.
mostly of the
strings of musical
instruments, play a stringed instrument
with the FINGERS, and not with the
plectron, “psēlai kai krouein tō plēktrō”
Krouō , fut. -sō E.El.180: aor.2. strike one against another, strike together , k. kheiras clap the hands, would have knocked their heads togethe 4. metaph. from tapping an earthen vessel, to try whether it rings sound IT EXCLUDES: Psallo
and STRIKE with a Plektron
SEVENTH: 2. later, sing to a harp, LXX Ps.7.18, 9.12, There is no harp in any of these Psalms Psa. 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, EIGHTH: “tē kardia” Ep.Eph.5.19;
tō pneumati Kardia 2. inclination, desire, purpose, as the seat of feeling and passion, as rage or anger, “oidanetai kradiē Kholō” Il.9.646;Notice the semicolon tē kardia” Ep.Eph.5.19; tō pneumati Is IN THE PLACE of the heartThe man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. Jb.29:13 So my heart laments for Moab like a flute;
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None of this is true: Psallo is a warfare and pollution word. It was used by the Hebrew scholars who translated the Septuagint (LXX).
Bill Swetmon notes that "Some think that the verb has its original signification of singing with an instrument. this is the dominant sense in the Septuagint, and both Basil and Gregory of Nyssa define a psalm as implying instrumental accompaniment;
8 . Now since man is a rational animal,
the instrument of his body must be made suitable for the use of reason;
as you may see musicians producing their music according to the form of their instruments,and not piping with harps known its hidden thoughts by means of the sound produced upon them.
Psalmus , i, m., = psalmos, i. q. psalma, I. a psalm (eccl. Lat.; cf.: “carmen, hymnus),” Tert. adv. Prax. 11; Lact. 4, 8, 14; 4, 12, 7; Vulg. Isa. 38, 20.—Esp., the Psalms of David, Vulg. Luc. 20, 42; id. Act. 13, 33 et saep
Bill Swetmon: and Clement of Alexandria, while forbidding the use of the flute in the Agapae, permitted the harp." (p. 28)
This comes from a chapter headed How to conduct ourselves at feats: he elsewhere defines IN CHURCH and OUT of church conduct. In the urban areas much of the food was consumed at commercial kitchens often provided by the pagan temples to market the food sacrificed to their "gods." If you left church and attended a feast at a home or local market place Clement permits only the lyre (no sounding board) but then quickly allegorizes it.
Clement Pedagogue 1. Accordingly, of old He instructed by Moses, and then by the prophets. Moses, too, was a prophet. For the law is the training of refractory children. "Having feasted to the full," accordingly, it is said, "they rose up to play; " [Ex. xxxii. 6; 1 Cor. x. 7] senseless repletion with victuals being called (fodder), not (food).
And when, having senselessly filled themselves, they senselessly played;
on that account the law was given them, and terror ensued for the prevention of transgressionsand for the promotion of right actions, securing attention, and so winning to obedience to the true Instructor, being one and the same Word, and reducing to conformity with the urgent demands of the law.
All Bible scholars know that it was musical idolatry at Mount Sinai which caused God to turn them over to worship the starry host.
Chapter IV.-How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts. Pedagogue 2
Let revelry keep away from our rational entertainments, and foolish vigils, too, that revel in intemperance. For revelry is an inebriating pipe, the chain 99 of an amatory bridge, that is, of sorrow. And let love, and intoxication, and senseless passions, be removed from our choir. Burlesque singing is the boon companion of drunkenness. A night spent over drink invites drunkenness, rouses lust, and is audacious in deeds of shame.
For if people occupy their time with pipes, and psalteries, and choirs, and dances, and Egyptian clapping of hands, and such disorderly frivolities,
they become quite immodest and intractable, beat on cymbals and drums, and make a noise on instruments of delusion ; for plainly such a banquet, as seems to me,
is a theatre of drunkenness. For the apostle decrees that, "putting off the works of darkness, we should put on the armour of light, walking honestly as in the day, not spending our time in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness." 100
Let the pipe be resigned to the shepherds, and the flute to the superstitious who are engrossed in idolatry. For, in truth, such instruments are to be banished from the temperate banquet, being more suitable to beasts than men, and the more irrational portion of mankind.
People willing to violate the direct commands for the ekklesia as a School of the Word will bypass everything except what they need. Clement after saying much more then says:
And even if you wish to sing and play to the harp or lyre, there is no blame.
Bill Swetmon: "Now some have argued that the word psallo underwent such a drastic change of meaning from the time of the Septuagint, that the first century the the word meant to sing only, without the sound of instruments. However one would have to seriously question that agrument, especially in view of the fact that when Josephus, the Jewish historian in the first century, was translated into Greek,
It is used to mean SING ONLY in the entire Bible.
When playing an instrument is meant it is included:
all instrument playing Greek words are compound words.
PSALLO means to pluck or smite a string with your fingers and NEVER with a plectrum. That is because the word for "shooting forth hymns" was used of making the bow string twang to send forth a singing arrow.
They could have seen that Paul put the "melody" in the place of the human spirit which is the only place God seeks our worship. Further, the parallel word in Colossians 3 is GRACE. We might assume that the word psallo never belonged in Ephesians 5 because it is never used to mean melody and Paul guided by the Spirit OF Christ had words which DID include the instrument:Psallo as defined by ALL of the Greek literature in fact outlaws using a guitar pick, blowing a wind instrument, smiting a drum, playing a keyboard or anything BUT a string.
Aeloid-ia A.singing, chantingNow, tell us that the Spirit OF Christ or Paul was so stupid that he did not know HOW to define singing AND playing in the external sense. In the HEART is a place.
Lur-aoidos one who sings to the lyre,
Auloid-os A.one who sings to the flute
Psilociitharista One who plays without singing
Chorokithar-eus A.one who plays the cithara to a chorus, (Aphrodisias ZOE)
Psaltes a player on the cithara, a musician, minstrel
Kat-auleō ,A. charm by flute-playing, tinos Pl.Lg.790e, cf. R.411a; tinaAlciphr.2.1: metaph., se . . -ēsō phobō I will flute to you on a ghastly flute,E.HF871 (troch.):—Pass., of persons, methuōn kai katauloumenos drinking wine to the strains of the flute, Pl.R.561c; k. pros khelōnidos psophon to be played to on the flute with lyre accompaniment,2. make a place sound with flute-playing, Thphr.Fr.87:— Pass., resound with flute-playing, “nēsos katēuleito” Plu.Ant.56.II. in Pass., [ton monokhordon kanona parekhein tais aisthēsesi . . katauloumenon subdued by a flute accompaniment, to be piped down, ridiculed, “gelōmenoi kai -oumenoi” III. c. acc. rei, play on the flute, “ta mētrōa” , to have played to one as an accompaniment on the flute, -“oumenoi pros tōn hepomenōn ta mētrōa melē”
Epi-psallō ,A. play the lyre, S.Fr.60, Poll.4.58（Pass.); “melesi kai rhuthmois”
SING, “tous humnous” LXX 2 Ma.1.30:Then the priests sang the hymns.Katapsallō S play stringed instruments to, [“sumposion kataulein kai k.” Pass., have music played to one, enjoy music, ib.785e; of places, resound with music, Id.Ant.56.Psallo means to pluck and make a sound: it does not include either melody or rhythm.
2. Pass., to be buried to the sound of music, Procop.Pers.2.23.
3. metaph., katapsalletai . . ho dēmiourgos is drummed out, Porph.
Jesus cast out the musical minstrels 'like dung' and consigned the pipers, singers and katdancers to the marketplace FROM WHICH the "psallo rope" drove the slackers to the Ekklesia for verbal instruction only. That is because all of the singers with instruments were known as parasites.
parasitor, to play the parasite, to sponge: parasitarier, parasitando pascere ventres suos
Similar to kitharizein. See Plautus, Persa
cĭthărīzo , āre, kitharizô, to play on or strike the cithara, Nep. Epam. 2, 1; Vulg. Apoc. 14, 2.
Bill Swetmon: psallo was used to translate "playing the harp." And you will find that in several references. One would be in his Antiquities, (Book 6, Ch. 8. v.2). In that particular reference, I counted at least three times where psallo was used when Josephus translated, to mean "playing on the harp." Now that is the first century literature. (Bill Swetmon, p. 29)
A. Ralph Johnson and all of the NACC: they advised them to inquire of such a one, and observe when these demons came upon him and disturbed him, and to take care that such a person might stand over him,
Chapter 2
One: and play [psalein]
Two: upon the harp
Three: and RECITE hymns to him....skillful in
........... playing [psalein]
........... ........... on the harp, and
........... in singing [exadein]
........... ........... of hymns,...
........... whensoever it was that it came upon him, and this byOne: RECITING of hymns, and
Two: playing [psalein]
Three: upon the harp... -Antiquities, Bk. 6, chap. 8, #2; Pages 185-186. (6.166 Whiston)
(16) Accordingly Saul did not delay, but commanded them to seek out such a man. And when a certain stander-by said that he had seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse, who was yet no more than a child in age, but comely and beautiful, and in other respects one that was deserving of great regard,
- who was skillful in playing on the harp,
- and in singing of hymns,
None of the Bible is metrical: it cannot be sung tunefully: presenting a poetic piece in the Bible was cantillating or RECITING.
If PSALEIN included BOTH singing and PLAYING on a harp then why did the Spirit of Christ use two words. This proves the point. Furthermore, psalein ia not psalmos or psallo. Singing is NEVER used to include both VOCAL reciting and playing an instrument.
IT IS NOT REASONABLE THAT PEOPLE WILLING
TO STALK AND DISCORD PEACEABLE CHURCHES WOULD BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND BLACK TEXT ON BROWN
PAPER.
No one can read the Bible, especially Paul
and
Peter, without understanding that they always outlaw the
common pagan
practices before defining church as devoted totally to
reading and
discussing the Word. Even at a "scholarly" level
people are
willing to speak FOR Christ when they have not read the text
and
defined words in the context in which Paul wrote.
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EPHESIANS 5:17-20KJV
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COLOSSIANS 3:16-17
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Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding
what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:17 ĭn-ēbrĭo Saturate,
full of talk
wherein is
excess; (Greek: vanity) The effect or
MARK of being drunk on wine:
Paul always defines away all of the hypocritic
arts. BUT,
be filled
with the Spirit; Eph 5:18
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Colossians
3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. Colossians
3:5 Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Phĭlŏsŏphĭa,
doctores săpĭentĭa sermons, interpret, sects Cic.Off.2.2.5
Wisdom, = sophia
Rom 8[13] For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new man, |
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Speaking to yourselves
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [Scripture] |
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [Scripture] |
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| singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord; |
singing
with
grace in your hearts to the Lord. |
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always giving thanks
to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Will of Christ is the Word of Christ is Spirit: the command was to teach what HE commanded to be taught. |
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all
In the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. |
Of course, Bill Swetmon is not neutral but, like all of the FHU unity speakers, intentionally presents the PRO instrumental position. We have it on good authority and personal observation that "Christian colleges have not defended the ANTI-instrumental position for 25 years." Of course we are aware that they never did other than inherited traditionalism.
The Disciples tried and
failed to grasp the word PSALLO for the first
time in 1878. However, those who ignore earlier discussions,
like Tome
Burgess and all his repeaters, dig up quotes from the
ancient texts to
prove that psallo demands "playing a harp." However,
the
texts
all speak
of males PLUCKING the harp to seduce a "youth minister" for
pederasty.
THERE IS NO OTHER MEANING IN HISTORY.
First, we have noted that the same false teachers appeal to Lucian of Samosata as their proof that psallo still implied instruments long after the time of Paul. However, what the proof-text-lifters do not know is that Lucian was trained in Classical or Attic Greek and knew that his "demonstration lectures" would have its widest monetary appeal among the nobles: kings, princes, priests. Therefore, Lucian is our proof that for the common people of Koine Greek the word psallo still rejected instruments perhaps because of its universal association with the theater, paganism and prostitution.
For two articles on Lucian to repudiate Swetmon etal Click Here for his use of psallo.
In addition, you may click here to read Lucian and all of the church fathers associating instrumental music with the theater or prostitution.
Second, lets note that Clement was speaking of secular festivals and totally condemned all instrumental music "in church." If Clement thought that psallo "implied" instruments he did not so think of the statement of Paul in Ephesians 5:19. Click to see the rest of the story about Clement. and more by Clement.
Ignorance of the facts used to sow discord among bretheren amounts to dishonesty. Whole lies are made up of half truths but there is not even a half truth in these false claims.
Comments about Basil A.D. 360
"But considerable prominence was given to the hymns by the Gnostic, Bardesans, who composed a psalter of 150 psalms. However, the 59th canon of the Synod of Laodicea, 360 A. D., enjoined that 'No psalm composed by private individuals nor any uncanonical books may be read in the Church, but only... the Canonical Books of the OT and NT." Int Std Ency., p. 2494
This is what Paul absolutely commanded: Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs are all inspired and Paul would tell the Corinthians that unless their assumed to be inspired songs or teachings could be validated by another supernaturally inspired prophet that they should sit down and shut up -- this applies to men as well as women.
However, in Corinth as in your local congregation:
"In competition with pagan musical art, congregational singing began to wane. Basil states that he had 'the Psalms rendered by skillful presentors after the manner of the triumphal Odes of Pindar, the congregation joining at the closing verse, with the accompaniment of lyres." Int Std Bible Ency., p. 2494A
This urge to use professional art to compete with others quite naturally led to the use of professional presenters. It is important to note the earlier statement that the use of music was often in the professionals.
Psalmody thus came to be increasingly the monoply of trained singers, and the 15th canon of the Council of Laodicea, 360 AD, proscribed that 'no others shall sing in the church save only the canonical singers...who go up into the ambo and sing with a book." (Int Std Bible Ency, Psalms, p. 2494a)
Then and now this proves that they were arrogantly violating Paul's instruction. If they remotely grasped that the command is not to "sing" but to "teach." That means "preach." This speaking or preaching to one another using the Biblical text would allow everyone to memorize the Psalms and other poetic history and there would be no need for a secular, carnal, pagan book.
Background Notes on Greek Music from Britannica Online
Greek music has a primary role as an educational tool of the youth. It was otherwise associated with the theater, which was always religious, in polite society and among the charismatic women prophetesses (prostitutes) at the "temples" or oracle shrines such as at Delphi. However, there was nothing similar in Greek society to modern four-part harmony with music to accompany it.
As Phythagoras learned at the Towers of Babylon about musical sounds as having the power to "move the worshipers into the presence of the gods" who would meet you as you ascended the tower:
"The prevailing doctrine of ethos, as explained by ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, was based on the belief that music has a direct effect upon the soul and actions of mankind.
"As a result, the Greek political and social systems were intertwined with music, which had a primary role in the dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. And the Grecian educational system was focused upon musica and gymnastica, the former referring to all cultural and intellectual studies, as distinguished from those related to physical training. (See ethos, dramatic literature.)
Isn't it interesting that the modern evangelists in order to "come in out of the cold" of the mission field quite naturally turn to temple building, gymnastica and musica. This is neo paganism and is not remotely connected to Christianity which is a spiritual religion where nothing which assaults the body can haven any effect but destructive mind-altering dissociation:
"The Greek philosophers believed that music in education made lasting effects upon the human soul. However, this music was for its own educational value and not for worship. There are very few fragments of musical notation which survived. However, these musical fragments show that
Greek music was predominantly vocal,
although instrumental pieces were sometimes presented.
The music was homophonic (not polyphonic); i.e., it consisted of single melodic lines.
Music would have been a four-note line identical to the tones of the voice:
"the most striking example being the epic poems of Homer, in which the singer accompanied himself on a lyre.
Ancient Greek was a pitched language, so melody had to be an outgrowth of the natural inflections of the spoken language.
Greek vowels had long and short values that corresponded to long and short notes in the musical settings. Thus musical rhythms were derived from metric forms, and melodic movement was governed by the natural rise and fall of the text.
Ancient Greece appears never to have had a developed instrumental art.
The word psallo would have retained its old meaning related to "plucking out hair" or "grinding to bits" to describe the judgment of Saul or it would still be appropriate to describe the pagan prostitutes who gained customers with music and drove them into madness which was sold as "experiencing god personally."
Even among the Hebrews, there was nothing similar to modern "church" singing and joining the instruments while singing would have been the activity of the children. So notes Job 21. It would also be the activity of the prostitute (Ezekiel 33). Or it would be the activity of religious leaders "on the take" (Amons 5, 6, 8)
Now, look where Bill Swetmon, at Freed Hardeman University, points in Josephus and see whether you want to follow Bill and crowd and "go thou and do likewise."
See A. Ralph Johnson's use of Josephus. ALL of the examples used by Tom Burgess--and the ditto heads--and A. Ralph Johnson make the three steps necessary: 1) sing, 2) pluck or play and 3) WHAT is to be plucked. It might just be the excess hair of the male catamite harp player. ALL also prove the sexual- homosexual drive of the "ministers of the gods" and their paying "congregations." NO exception.
These men said it was
not right either to send the ark away, or to retain it,
but to
dedicate five golden images, one for every city, as a
thank-offering
to God, on account of his having taken care of their
preservation,
and having kept them alive when their lives were likely to
be taken
away by such distempers as they were not able to bear up
against.
They also would have them make five golden mice like to
those that
devoured and destroyed their country (2) to put them in a
bag, and
lay them upon the ark; to make them a new cart also for
it, and to
yoke milch kine to it (3) but to shut up their calves, and
keep them
from them, lest, by following after them, they should
prove a
hinderance to their dams, and that the dams might return
the faster
out of a desire of those calves; then to drive these milch
kine that
carried the ark, and leave it at a place where three ways
met, and So
leave it to the kine to go along which of those ways they
pleased;
that in case they went the way to the Hebrews, and
ascended to their
country, they should suppose that the ark was the cause of
their
misfortunes; but if they turned into another road, they
said, "We
will pursue after it, and conclude that it has no such
force in
it."
Of
course, it was moved with great musical noise:
???2 Spanheim informs us here, that upon the coins of Tenedos, and those of other cities, a field-mouse is engraven, together with Apollo Smintheus, or Apollo, the driver away of field-mice, on account of his being supposed to have freed certain tracts of ground from those mice; which coins show how great a judgment such mice have sometimes been, and how the deliverance from them was then esteemed the effect of a divine power; which observations are highly suitable to this history.
3 This device of the Philistines, of having a yoke of kine to draw this cart, into which they put the ark of the Hebrews, is greatly illustrated by Sanchoniatho's account, under his ninth generation, that Agrouerus, or Agrotes, the husbandman, had a much-worshipped statue and temple, carried about by one or more yoke of oxen, or kine, in Phoenicia, in the neighborhood of these Philistines. See Cumberland's Sanchoniatho, p. 27 and 247; and Essay on the Old Testament, Append. p. 172.
4 These seventy men, being not so much as Levites, touched the ark in a rash or profane manner, and were slain by the hand of God for such their rashness and profaneness, according to the Divine threatenings, Numbers 4:15, 20; but how other copies come to add such an incredible number as fifty thousand in this one town, or small city, I know not. See Dr. Wall's Critical Notes on 1 Samuel 6:19.
This was not "worship" but singing Saul's swan song as CHARMING or EXORCISM:
Exaidein dunamenos kai psallein epi kinurai
Exaidô , A. sing out, sing one's last song, of the swan 2. sing the exodos, of a chorus II. sing away by means of a spell
"Jingling, banging, and rattling accompanied heathen cults, and the frenzying shawms of a dozen ecstatic cries intoxicated the masses. Amid this euphoric farewell feast of a dying civilization, the voices of nonconformists were emerging from places of Jewish and early Christian worship ..." (Encyclopedia Judaica, 1971 ed., s.v. "Music."
exaidein dunamenos kai psallein epi kinurai
Dunamai I. to be able, strong enough to do, having influence with him, c. of things, mean, 'spell',
Cunning of David is yada (h3045) includes prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understood, have [understanding], * will be, wist, wit, wot.
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Ge.3:5
exaidein dunamenos kai psallein epi kinurai
Psallein psallo meaning purely to play or pluck
exaidein dunamenos kai psallein epi kinurai
Kinura A. kinnor, a stringed instrument played with the hand, LXX 1 Ki.16.23; with a plectron, J.AJ7.12.3. However, Josephus says:
The viol was an instrument of ten strings, it was played upon with a bow; the psaltery had twelve musical notes, and was played upon by the fingers;
As well defined in Revelation 17-18 the speakers, singers and instrument players were a sign that the "lights" or the Spirit of Christ had departed from those John called sorcerers.Of this event, Josephus reads:
they advised them to inquire for such a one, and to observe when these demons came upon him and disturbed him, and to take care that such a person might stand over him, and play upon the harp, and recite hymns to him.
Only if Ralph has some demon-possessed people should they perhaps "call for the musicians" and let them play over him.
Playing or plucking has no meaning unless you define WHAT is to be plucked WITH THE FINGERS ONLY, please. If you have DEMONS you want to introduce into the "worship assembly" then be my guest.
stanta psallein te kai tous humnous epilegein.
Kêleô, A. charm, bewitch, beguile, esp. by music epaidôn k. charm by incantation, kêleitai aoidais
Epaeidô means to sing AND play 2. sing as an incantation, sing to one so as to charm or soothe him, use charms or incantations, by means of charms
And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. Is.19:3
Furthermore, this was not singing but RECITING by David.
Epilegô, 2. . say besides, repeat, 4. . utter, pronounce a spell (cf.epeipon ), rhêsin mustikên. III 2. . in Hdt. also, con over, read, 3. . recount, in speaking
Or in Latin
Recito , a-vi, a-tum, 1, v. a. I. In the best prose, a publicist's t. t., to read out, recite a document.. it became customary to recite one's own works before audiences; cf.: pronuntio, declamo): B. To repeat from memory, say by heart, recite.
1Sa 18:10 KJV And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
1Sa 18:11 KJV And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
1Sa 18:12 KJV And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul
1 Sam 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah."He prophesied in the midst of the house. He was beside himself; made prayers, supplications, and incoherent imprecations: 'God preserve my life,' 'Destroy my enemies,' or such like prayers, might frequently escape from him in his agitated state. The Arabic intimates that he was actually possessed by an evil spirit, and that through it he uttered a sort of demoniacal predictions." (Clark, 1 Sam 18, p. 270).
"In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a diadem: And as spears were the emblems of supreme power, hence they were reputed as attributes of the Divinity, and were worshipped as representatives of the gods." (Adam Clark, 1 Sam. 18, p. 270)
1 Sam 16:14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
1 Sam 16:15 And Sauls servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.When Saul prophesied it has the same meaning as the Levitical PRAISE word as they prophesied with instruments:
"We find demon-possessed Saul 'acting like a prophet' by becoming semi-conscious and immobile when attempting to apprehend David at Ramah..The context of this passage makes it clear that Saul's behavior was not the ordinary behavior of the true prophets of God." (Christianity Today, March 12,
"'Played the prophet,' viz., by gestures and demeanor."--Driver. "Rather, he raved."--Keil. "The word 'prophesy' describes an ecstatic condition due to supernatural influence, good or evil; the result in the one case being prophetic inspiration or religious enthusiasm, in the other raving madness."--Cambridge Bible. 1971, p. 541)
Heredotus writes: Now the Scythians are wont to reproach the Greeks with their Bacchanal rage, and to say that it is not reasonable to imagine there is a god who impels men to madness. No sooner, therefore, was Scylas initiated in the Bacchic mysteries than one of the Borysthenites went and carried the news to the Scythians "
You Scyths laugh at us" he said, "because we rave when the god seizes us.
But now our god has seized upon your king, who raves like us, and is maddened by the influence. If you think I do not tell you true, come with me, and I will show him to you."
The chiefs of the Scythians went with the man accordingly, and the Borysthenite, conducting them into the city, placed them secretly on one of the towers.
Presently Scylas passed by with the band of revellers, raving like the rest, and was seen by the watchers.
Regarding the matter as a very great misfortune they instantly departed, and came and told the army what they had witnessed.
By the time you hear the singing AND instrumental PLAYING it is a sign that God has been there
THUS hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. Amos 8:1
Amos 8:2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
A basket:
Keluwb (h3619) kel-oob'; from the same as 3611; a bird-trap (as furnished with a clap-stick or treadle to spring it); hence a basket (as resembling a wicker cage): - basket, cage.
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. Je.5:27
Keleb (h3611) keh'leb; from an unused root mean. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute: - dog.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly [multitude, swarm] of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Ps.22:16
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Is.56:11
And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. Je.15:3
See Amos 8. These were the same FRUITS lusted after in Revelation 18 as speakers, singers and instrument players John called Sorcerers who marked the turning out the lamps of God.
DICAEOPOLIS
Peace, profane men! Let the basket-bearer come forward, and thou Xanthias, hold the phallus well upright.
- The maiden who carried the basket filled with fruits at the Dionysia in honour of Bacchus.
- The emblem of the fecundity of nature; it consisted of a representation, generally grotesquely exaggerated, of the male genital organs; the phallophori crowned with violets and ivy and their faces shaded with green foliage, sang improvised airs, call `Phallics,' full of obscenity and suggestive `double entendres.
In
Book
VI
CHAPTER 8.
HOW, UPON SAUL'S TRANSGRESSION OF THE PROPHET'S COMMANDS, SAMUEL ORDAINED ANOTHER PERSON TO BE KING PRIVATELY, WHOSE NAME WAS DAVID, AS GOD COMMANDED HIM.
1. NOW Saul being sensible of the miserable condition he had brought himself into, and that he had made God to be his enemy, he went up to his royal palace at Gibeah, which name denotes a hill, and after that day he came no more into the presence of the prophet. And when Samuel mourned for him, God bid him leave off his concern for him, and to take the holy oil, and go to Bethlehem, to Jesse the son of Obed, and to anoint such of his sons as he should show him for their future king.
In Isaiah and Amos when the people fell into musical worship and refused to hear the Words of God, it is true that "God left off His concern for them" and allowed them to sing and play their way into captivity and death.
2. So Samuel, when he had given him these admonitions, went away. But the Divine Power departed from Saul, and removed to David;
who, upon this removal of the Divine Spirit to him, began to prophesy.
(This was like speaking in tongues at Pentecost: a judgmental sign of God's desertion)
But as for Saul, some strange and demoniacal disorders came upon him, and brought upon him such suffocations as were ready to choke him; for which the physicians could find no other remedy but this, That if any person could charm those passions
- by singing, and
- playing
- upon the harp,
Note: if "singing and playing the harp" is implied in Bill Swetmon's use of psallo then we must of necessity translate this passage as follows:
- By singing and
- By singing and playing upon the harp
This is also true of Ephesians 5:19. It does not say "singing and singing in the heart." It puts the speaking on the outside with the absolute demand to teach the Words of Christ. The melody is on the inside where its "abrading" meaning implies to "break the heart." It does not mean to celebrate ala voodoo.
they advised them to inquire for such a one, and to observe when these demons came upon him and disturbed him, and to take care that such a person might stand over him,
- and play upon the harp,
- and recite hymns to him.
Accordingly Saul did not delay, but commanded them to seek out such a man. And when a certain stander-by said that he had seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse,
who was yet no more than a child in age,
but comely and beautiful, and in other respects one that was deserving of great regard,
who was skillful in playing on the harp,
and in singing of hymns,
Or, if Bill Swetmon is right, we must translate this:
Who was skillful in singing and playing on the harp
and in singing of hymns
[And an excellent soldier in war]
When David the warrior who replaced God as commander destroyed all of the enemy he reassigned his millitary musicians to the central headquarters in Jerusalem: they were under the king and the commanders of the army.
As such, they were overseers or excellers who guaranteed that the common people did not get into the temple (as they had as flaming cherubim kept them out of the Tabernacle) and later to drive them as slaves to build the temple. The musical Levites were warriors who did not serve the people but the priests in the horrible spectacle of killing all of those animals.
he sent to Jesse, and desired him to take David away from the flocks, and send him to him, for he had a mind to see him, as having heard an advantageous character of his comeliness and his valor. So Jesse sent his son, and gave him presents to carry to Saul. And when he was come, Saul was pleased with him, and made him his armor-bearer, and had him in very great esteem; for
he charmed his passion, and was the only physician against the trouble he had from the demons, whensoever it was that it came upon him, and this by
reciting
of hymns,
and playing
upon the harp,
- and bringing Saul to his right mind again.
Modern research admits that music may have some advantage in calming those suffering mental illness. Even this, therapists insist, should be very simple or even single, pure tones (as in unison). They are also agreed that one can play music and bring on an "evil spirit" which, if God's will is ignored, is from the Lord.
The church needs musical physicians or soothsayers only if it is possessed of a mad demon.
However, he sent to Jesse, the father of the child, and desired him to permit David to stay with him, for that he was delighted with his sight and company; which stay, that he might not contradict Saul, he granted.
Joining voice to Instruments was a children's or pagan activity:
"Spanheim takes notice here that the Greeks had such singers of hymns; and that usually children or youths were picked out for that service; as also, that those called singers to the harp, did the same that David did here, i. e. join their own vocal and instrumental music together." (Josephus, notes by William Whiston, John Winston, Co. p. 186)
However, Arnobius who understood that Jesus had fired the demons asked:
"Are the gods moved by garlands also, wreaths and flowers, by the jingling of brass also, and the shaking of cymbals, by timbrels also, and also by symphonious pipes? What effect has the clattering of castanets, that when the deities have heard them, they think that honor has been shown to them and lay aside their fiery spirit of resentment in forgetfulness? Or, as little boys are frightened by giving over their silly wailings by hearing the sound of rattles, are the almighty deities also soothed in the same way by the whistling of pipes? And do they become mild, is their indignation softened at the musical sound of cymbals? 'What is the meaning of those calls which you sing in the morning, joining your voice to the music of the pipe. Do the gods of heaven fall asleep, so that they should return to their posts? What is the meaning of those slumbers to which you commend them with auspicious salutations that they may be in good health? Are they awakened from sleep; and that they may be able to overcome by it, must soothing lullabies be heard?" (Arnobius Against the Heathen, Ante-Nicene Fathers, VI, p. 531).
CHAPTER 10.
SAUL ENVIES DAVID FOR HIS GLORIOUS SUCCESS, AND TAKES AN OCCASION OF ENTRAPPING HIM, FROM THE PROMISE HE MADE HIM OF GIVING HIM HIS DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE; BUT THIS UPON CONDITION OF HIS BRINGING HIM SIX HUNDRED HEADS OF THE PHILISTINES.
Guess how God brought on the evil spirit:
1. NOW the women were an occasion of Saul's envy and hatred to David;
for they came to meet their victorious army with cymbals, and drums, and all demonstrations of joy, and sang thus:
The wives said, that "Saul had slain his many thousands of the Philistines."
The virgins replied, that "David had slain his ten thousands."Now, when the king heard them singing thus, and that he had himself the smallest share in their commendations, and the greater number, the ten thousands, were ascribed to the young man; and when he considered with himself that there was nothing more wanting to David, after such a mighty applause, but the kingdom;
he began to be afraid and suspicious of David. Accordingly he removed him from the station he was in before, for he was his armor-bearer, which, out of fear, seemed to him much too near a station for him; and so he made him captain over a thousand, and bestowed on him a post better indeed in itself, but, as he thought, more for his own security;
for he had a mind to send him against the enemy, and into battles, as hoping he would be slain in such dangerous conflicts.
This lying, musical flattery by the women was part of Saul's judgment. No better way to throw the "king" into a fit of depression than by bragging up the armor bearer. Certian forms of 'exciting' music has always been used to bring on what Paul called madness (saw a voodoo film today).
This does not keep ignorant men from using David's instruments and the women choirs as proof-text authority for modern choirs and instrumental performers. However, it is a medical fact that music can, and is designed to, bring on the demons of jealousy and envy and pride.
CHAPTER 11.
HOW DAVID, UPON SAUL'S LAYING SNARES FOR HIM, DID YET ESCAPE THE DANGERS HE WAS IN BY THE AFFECTION AND CARE OF JONATHAN AND THE CONTRIVANCES OF HIS WIFE MICHAL: AND HOW HE CAME TO SAMUEL THE PROPHET.
3. About this time it was that, upon the Philistines making a new expedition against the Hebrews, Saul sent David with an army to fight with them; and joining battle with them he slew many of them, and after his victory he returned to the king.
But his reception by Saul was not as he expected upon such success, for he was grieved at his prosperity, because he thought he would be more dangerous to him by having acted so gloriously:
- but when the demoniacal spirit came upon him,
- and put him into disorder, and disturbed him, (he prophesied but he was not a prophet)
- he called for David into his bed-chamber wherein he lay,
- and having a spear in his hand,
- he ordered him to charm him with playing on his harp,
- and with singing hymns;
which when David did at his command, he with great force threw the spear at him; but David was aware of it before it came, and avoided it, and fled to his own house, and abode there all that day.
CHAPTER 9.
CONCERNING ALBINUS UNDER WHOSE PROCURATORSHIP JAMES WAS SLAIN; AS ALSO WHAT EDIFICES WERE BUILT BY AGRIPPA. (A special note to Seeker Service Solicitors)
5. But when Albinus heard that Gessius Florus was coming to succeed him, he was desirous to appear to do somewhat that might be grateful to the people of Jerusalem; so he brought out all those prisoners who seemed to him to be most plainly worthy of death, and ordered them to be put to death accordingly. But as to those who had been put into prison on some trifling occasions,
he took money of them, and dismissed them; by which means the prisons were indeed emptied, but the country was filled with robbers. (This was a true Jubilee)
6. "Now as many of the Levites, which is a tribe of ours, as were singers of hymns, persuaded the king to assemble a sanhedrim,
and to give them leave to wear linen garments, as well as the priests
for they said that this would be a work worthy the times of his government, that he might have a memorial of such a novelty, as being his doing. Nor did they fail of obtaining their desire;for the king, with the suffrages of those that came into the sanhedrim, granted the singers of hymns this privilege, that they might lay aside their former garments, and wear such a linen one as they desired;
and as a part of this tribe ministered in the temple, he also permitted them to learn those hymns as they had besought him for.
Now all this was contrary to the laws of our country, which, whenever they have been transgressed, we have never been able to avoid the punishment of such transgressions. (Antiq. XX.ix.6).
7. And now it was that the temple was finished. So when the people saw that the workmen were unemployed, who were above eighteen thousand and that they,
receiving no wages, were in want
because they had earned their bread by their labors about the temple;
and while they were unwilling to keep by them the treasures that were there deposited,out of fear of [their being carried away by] the Romans; and while they had a regard to the making provision for the workmen;
they had a mind to expend these treasures upon them; for if any one of them did but labor for a single hour, he received his pay immediately; so they persuaded him to rebuild the eastern cloisters.
These cloisters belonged to the outer court, and were situated in a deep valley, and had walls that reached four hundred cubits [in length], and were built of square and very white stones, the length of each of which stones was twenty cubits, and their height six cubits. This was the work of king Solomon, (27) who first of all built the entire temple.
But king Agrippa, who had the care of the temple committed to him by Claudius Caesar, considering that it is easy to demolish any building, but hard to build it up again, and that it was particularly hard to do it to these cloisters, which would require a considerable time, and great sums of money,
he denied the petitioners their request about that matter; but he did not obstruct them when they desired the city might be paved with white stone.
He also deprived Jesus, the son of Gamaliel, of the high priesthood, and gave it to Matthias, the son of Theophilus, under whom the Jews' war with the Romans took its beginning.
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