Hands on Drums

Although the drum as we know it with the skin head was not mentioned in the Bible, historically the drum was used all throughout Biblical times and before. The Tambourine or timbrel used streached skin over it, that represents the head on the drum in todays lesson. The Romans,Greeks, Egyptians all used both small and large drums.

Drums first appeared as far back as 6000 BC. Mesopotamian excavations unearthed small cylindrical drums dated 3000 BC. Several wall markings found in caves in Peru show drums used in various aspects of societal life. The American Indians used gourd and wooden constructed drums for their rituals and ceremonies. Drums have always been used for more than merely creating music. Civil uses, messaging, and religious uses are but a few.Romans came. Their empire grew bigger and bigger and around 200 BC they had even invaded Greece and Northern Africa. They also learned about the drums, but, unlike the Greek, they did see use for the drums. They started using them in their armies and their orchestras.

Scripture using  Percussion instruments
                  1. Cymbals.
   II Samuel 6:5
   I Chronicles 13:8; 15:16, 19, 28; 16:5, 42; 25:1, 6
   II Chronicles 5:12, 13; 29:25
   Ezra 3:10
   Nehemiah 12:27
   Psalms 150:5
   I Corinthians 13:1
2. Tambourine (timbrel; or tabret, pl.).
   Genesis 31:27; Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34
   I Samuel 10:5; 18:6
   II Samuel 6:5; I Chronicles 13:8; Job 21:12
   Psalms 68:25; 81:2; 149:3; 150:4; Jeremiah 31:4

Membranophones are instruments that consist of a membrane stretched across an opening and the surface is struck. The most common membranophone is the drum. In Israel/Palestine and most of the Ancient Near East, the frame drum (tof) was extremely popular. This particular membranophone played a major role in the instruments used in religious performance and victorious battle celebrations

2o: So Mary the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand: and all the women went forth after her with timbrels and with dances:

Drums were used in biblical times, it also shows us that when we see the word 'tambourine' in Scripture we can read it as 'frame drum'. Frame drums are still popular today and found in most cultures around the world. They vary in size and each culture has developed its own playing style - one of the more unusual being the Irish bodhran played with a short double ended stick known as a 'tipper'. These drums are highly versatile and can provide a dynamic and powerful sound. Compared to the seemingly male dominated drumset of today, which interestingly has a history of less than 100 years - size and portability of the frame drum maybe one reason more women played them in Bible times.