23Take away from me the noise of your songs; for I will not hear the melody of your viols.
Commentary
Adam Clarke
Verse 23 The noise of thy songs - the melody of thy viols - They had both vocal and instrumental music in those sacrificial festivals; and God hated the noise of the one and shut his ears against the melody of the other. In the first there was nothing but noise, because their hearts were not right with God; and in the latter there could be nothing but (זמרת zimrath) cutting and scraping, because there was no heart - no religious sense in the thing, and nearly as little in them that used it. See on Amo 6:5 (note).
Pulpit Commentary
Amo 5:23
The noise of thy songs. Their psalms and hymns of praise were mere noise in God’s ear, and wearied him (Isa 1:14; Isa 24:8; Eze 26:13). Viols (Amo 6:5); ὀργάνων. The nebel, usually translated "psaltery," was a kind of harp. Josephus (’Ant.,’ 7.12. 3) describes it as having twelve strings, played by the fingers. Music, both instrumental and vocal, was used in the temple worship (see 1Ch 16:42; 1Ch 23:5; and 25.).
Commentary
Adam Clarke
Pulpit Commentary
The noise of thy songs. Their psalms and hymns of praise were mere noise in God’s ear, and wearied him (Isa 1:14; Isa 24:8; Eze 26:13). Viols (Amo 6:5); ὀργάνων. The nebel, usually translated "psaltery," was a kind of harp. Josephus (’Ant.,’ 7.12. 3) describes it as having twelve strings, played by the fingers. Music, both instrumental and vocal, was used in the temple worship (see 1Ch 16:42; 1Ch 23:5; and 25.).