** **Sistrums are mentioned only once in the Old Testament. This reference was the first time David tried to bring up the ark of God from Baalah of Judah to Jerusalem. II Samuel 6:5 says "David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals."
Sistrum is the translation of the Hebrew word 'mena'an'iym'. It is a rattler, in the shape of a 'Y' with strings of beads across the top part of the 'Y'. This word was translated at 'Castanets' in the RSV and 'Cornet' in the KJV.
** Picture Credit: The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 3, p 471, plate 81, Abington Press.
Created 1/25/97, Last Revised 08/31/01