HARP
Perhaps the most beautiful of instruments and certainly the most common among the ancients, the harp is mentioned many times in the Bible (1 Sam. 10:5; 2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12; 1 Chron. 13:8; 15:16, etc.).
In ancient times it had various sizes and shapes, as confirmed by the numerous specimens found in Mesopotamia.
The translation of the Hebrew term for this instrument varies according to the different versions: harp, psaltery, zither, lyre, etc. The number of strings varied depending on the size and shape of the instrument.
Many psalms are composed to be played on the harp. David played the harp (1 Sam. 18:6 ff.). In the festivities and in the Temple worship the harps accompanied the songs (1 Chr. 15:16; Neh. 12:27).