KINNOR: Israel musical instrument

Kinnor is the Hebrew term for an ancient Israelite musical instrument, the exact identification of which is not clear, but in the contemporary day is commonly called the harp or the lyre and linked with a kind of lyre portrayed in the imagery of the Israelite, especially thee Bar Kochba coin. The musical instrument has been known as the national musical instrument of the people of Jew and modern producers of the musical instrument have manufactured lyres of the kinnor based on this imagery.

The musical instrument is commonly agreed to be a stringed musical instrument and as such the stringed musical instrument most commonly mentioned in the old testament of the bible. The musical instrument is also the first string musical instrument to be cited in the bible appearing in Genesis 4:21.

Josephus describes the musical instrument as having ten strings, produced from the small intestines of a sheep ad performed with the use of a plectrum, but the book of Samuel notes that David performed the kinoor with his bare hands. The international standard Bible encyclopedia also cited that the early church fathers agreed the cithara had its resonator in the lower section of the body. Like the nevel, the musical instrument is made up of a soundboard, having two arm extending parallel to the body of the musical instrument, with arms crossed by a yoke which the strings of the musical instrument extends down to the body of the instrument.

The name of the musical instrument is mentioned 42 times in the Old Testament, in relation to divine worship, prophecy, prostitution and secular festivals. The name of the instrument is sometimes mentioned together with the nevel that is also said to a lyre, but louder and larger than the kinnor. The Mishna opines that the minimum number of the musical instrument to be played in the temple is about 9 with no maximum number.