The Tambourine is mentioned seventeen times in the Old Testament. It was played by women. It wasn't used in temple ritual, but it was used to praise God.
The Hebrew word 'toph' is translated tambourine or timbrel.
Genesis 31:27 Why did you flee secretly, and cheat me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?
1 Samuel 10:5 After that you shall come to Gibeathelohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines; and there, as you come to the city, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying.
Job 21:12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
2 Samuel 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
1 Chronicles 13:8 And David and all Israel were making merry before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.
Timbrel in the KJ and RSV
Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing.
Psalms 81:2 Raise a song, sound the timbrel, the sweet lyre with the harp.
Psalms 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
Psalms 150:4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Isaiah 5:12 They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts; but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.
Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing.
Judges 11:34 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
1 Samuel 18:6 ¶ As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels, with songs of joy, and with instruments of music.
Psalms 68:25 the singers in front, the minstrels last, between them maidens playing timbrels:
Isaiah 24:8 The mirth of the timbrels is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
Isaiah 30:32 And every stroke of the staff of punishment which the LORD lays upon them will be to the sound of timbrels and lyres; battling with brandished arm he will fight with them.
Jeremiah 31:4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with timbrels, and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
Created 1/25/97 Revised 09/03/01