Singers

Singers [nave]

SINGERS
See: Music.

Singing [nave]

SINGING
See: Music (Choir).

SINGERS; SINGING [isbe]

SINGERS; SINGING - sing'-erz, sing'-ing: Singing seems to have become a regular profession at quite early date among the Hebrews. David had his troupe of "singing men and singing women" at Jerusalem (2 Sam 19:35), and no doubt Solomon added to their numbers. Isa 23:16 suggests that it was not uncommon for foreign female minstrels of questionable character to be heard making "sweet melody," singing songs along the streets and highways of Judea. Nor was the worship of the temple left to the usually incompetent and inconstant leadership of amateur choristers. The elaborate regulations drawn up for the constitution of the temple orchestra and chorus are referred to under MUSIC (which see). It has been inferred from Ezr 2:65 that women were included among the temple singers, but this is erroneous, as the musicians there mentioned were of the class employed at banquets, festivals, etc. The temple choir consisted exclusively of Levites, one essential qualification of an active member of that order being a good voice.

Of the vocal method of the Hebrews we know nothing. Wellhausen imagines that he can detect one of the singers, in the portrayal of an Assyrian band, compressing his throat in order to produce a vibrato; and it is quite possible that in other respects as well as this, ancient and modern oriental vocalization resembled each other. But that is about all that can be said.

On the other hand, we cannot repeat too often that we are quite unable to identify any intervals, scales, or tunes as having been used in ancient Israel. Even those who hold that the early church took the Gregorian "tones" from the synagogue, confess that it was "certainly not without considerable modifications." And, of course, there was not the slightest affinity between the Hebrew and the Anglican chant.

See MUSIC; PRAISE; SONG; TEMPLE.

James Millar

SINGING [bridgeway]

From ancient times to the present, singing has been used as a form of relaxation or amusement (2 Sam 19:35; Amos 6:4-5), an expression of joy (Prov 29:6; Isa 16:10; James 5:13), a form of celebration (Judg 5:1-2; 1 Sam 21:11), and a means of praising God (Exod 15:1; Ps 30:4; 66:4; 95:1-3; Acts 16:25; Rev 5:9; 15:3). Singing has often been associated with music and dancing (Gen 31:27; Exod 15:20-21; Isa 5:12; see DANCING; MUSIC).

In the temple worship that David organized, there were groups of singers who sang under a conductor to the accompaniment of music (1 Chron 15:16,22). This arrangement was followed by some of Israel’s later leaders (2 Chron 29:30; Ezra 3:10-11). The psalms that these singers sang were sometimes divided into parts that individuals or sections of the choir sang in turn (Ezra 3:11; Ps 118; see PSALMS, BOOK OF).

Singing is an important part of the life of the church (1 Cor 14:26; cf. Mark 14:26). It should be an expression of praise to God that arises from a heart filled with joy and thanks. However, the songs must be based firmly on the Word of God, and people must sing them with understanding, not just with a feeling of enjoyment. Only in this way will God be truly praised and the singers be truly built up in their Christian faith (1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).

In the early church, songs were an important means of summarizing Christian truth in a form that could be easily remembered and repeated. The New Testament contains what appear to be selections from early Christian songs (Phil 2:6-11; Col 1:15-20; 1 Tim 3:16; cf. also Luke 1:46-55,68-79; 2:14,29-32; Rev 4:11; 5:9-10; 11:17-18; 15:3-4.)