Amos 5:23 - Exposition

The noise of thy songs. Their psalms and hymns of praise were mere noise in God's ear, and wearied him ( Isaiah 1:14 ; Isaiah 24:8 ; Ezekiel 26:13 ). Viols ( Amos 6:5 ); ὀργάνων . The nebel, usually translated "psaltery," was a kind of harp. Josephus ('Ant.,' 7.12. 3) describes it as having twelve strings, played by the fingers. Music, both instrumental and vocal, was used in the temple worship (see 1 Chronicles 16:42 ; 1 Chronicles 23:5 ; and 25.).