ABSTRACT
Most, if not all, biblical references to music occur in the framework of discussions concerning the use of music in a religious context. Indeed, the vigorous and enduring debate over the permissibility of music in Judaism, Islam, and, to some extent, in Christianity, is a most interesting subject, because beyond the consideration of music in itself, it touches upon a dense network of related areas of knowledge. Thus, the authors find that the conflicting views regarding music, its nature, effect and origin, gave rise to an abundant literature about whether or not music and dance are lawful or permissible in a religious context. Noteworthy, it was compulsive for the antagonists who debated the question of the music status to repose their argumentation on biblical evidence in seeking to assess their conflicting views especially as regards to the musical instruments that fulfilled important role in the highly refined Temple's ritual.
