# Timbrel

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Principal percussion instrument of the ancient Israelites

For the album, see [Timbrel (album)](/source/Timbrel_(album)).

Timbrel Judean tof[1] Percussion instrument Other names adufe, deff, tabret, tof Classification Frame drum Hornbostel–Sachs classification 211.311 (Directly struck membranophone)

The **timbrel** or **tabret** (also known as the **tof** of the ancient [Hebrews](/source/Hebrews), the **deff** in [Arabic](/source/Arabic), the **adufe** of the Moors of [Portugal](/source/Portugal)) was the principal [percussion instrument](/source/Percussion_instrument) of the ancient [Israelites](/source/Israelites). It resembled either a [frame drum](/source/Frame_drum)[2] or a modern [tambourine](/source/Tambourine).[3]

## History

The word timbrel is used in the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible) in both singular and plural form, so as to suggest the former referred to a hoop of wood or metal over which was stretched a parchment head; while the latter was perhaps used to designate the tambourine with bells or jangles fixed at intervals in hoops. A tambourine is essentially a wooden frame drum with jangles or bells round the edges.[3] In [Nahum 2:7](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Nahum#2:7), where the word "tabering" occurs in the [King James Version](/source/King_James_Version), it means beating on the breast, as drummers beat on the tabret.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The Israelites learned to use the timbrel during their sojourn in [Egypt](/source/Egypt)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*], and in the [*Encyclopædia Britannica* Eleventh Edition](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition), Kathleen Schlesinger stated "it has been suggested that as the Egyptians used it to scare away their evil spirit [Typhon](/source/Typhon)",[3] the word tof is derived from the latter. The tabret or timbrel was a favorite instrument of the women, and was used with dances, as by [Miriam](/source/Miriam), to accompany songs of victory, or with the [harp](/source/Harp) at [banquets](/source/Banquet) and processions; it was one of the instruments used by [King David](/source/King_David) and his musicians when he danced before the [Ark of the Covenant](/source/Ark_of_the_Covenant). It was also used in the valley of [Hinnom](/source/Hinnom) at the sacrificial rites.[3]

John Keats mentions timbrels in [Ode on a Grecian Urn](/source/Ode_on_a_Grecian_Urn), written in 1819: "What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?"

## See also

- [Tabor (instrument)](/source/Tabor_(instrument))

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Thomson, W. M. (1859). *The Land and the Book; or Biblical Illustrations Drawn from the Manners and Customs, the Scenes and Scenery of the Holy Land, Volume II*. New York. p. 579.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESendry1969_2-0)** [Sendry 1969](#CITEREFSendry1969). sfn error: no target: CITEREFSendry1969 ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Harv_and_Sfn_template_errors))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESchlesinger1911_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESchlesinger1911_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESchlesinger1911_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESchlesinger1911_3-3) [Schlesinger 1911](#CITEREFSchlesinger1911).

## References

- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Schlesinger, Kathleen](/source/Kathleen_Schlesinger) (1911). "[Timbrel](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Timbrel)". In [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm) (ed.). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 981.

## Further reading

- Lewis, Bernard, ed. (1976). *The World of Islam, Faith, People and Culture*.[*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*]

- Marcuse, Sibyl (1975). [*Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Dictionary*](https://archive.org/details/musicalinstrumen00marc). New York: W. W. Norton. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-393-00758-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-393-00758-8).[*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*]

- Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John; Macy, Laura, eds. (2001). *[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians](/source/The_New_Grove_Dictionary_of_Music_and_Musicians)* (2nd ed.).[*[volume and issue needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*][*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*]

- Sadie, Stanley, ed. (1980). *[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians](/source/The_New_Grove_Dictionary_of_Music_and_Musicians)*. Vol. 6 Entry "Frame drum" (1st ed.). p. 739.

v t e Frame drums Africa Bendir Mazhar Sakara Americas Gumbe Pandeiro Pandereta plenera Pandero jarocho Tamborim Eurasia Adufe Bodhrán Crowdy-crawn Daf Dayereh Dhyāngro Kanjira Lag-na Pandero Parai Patayani thappu Rebana Riddle drum Riq Sami drum Skor yike Tambourine Tar Timbrel

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