An instrument of music, early and often mentioned in Scripture, Gen 31:27 Job 21:12 . The Hebrews called it toph, under which name they comprehended all kinds of drums, tabors, and tambourines. We do not find that the Hebrews used it in their wars, but only at their public rejoicing, Exo 15:20 Isa 24:8 ; and it was commonly employed by the women, Psa 62:12 . It consisted, and still consists, of a small circular rim or hoop, over which a skin is drawn. The rim is also hung with small bells. The timbrel is used as an accompaniment to lively music, being shaken and beaten with the knuckles in time. After the passage of the Red sea, Miriam, sister of Moses, took a timbrel, and began to play and dance with the women, Exo 15:20 . The daughter of Jephthah came to meet her father with timbrels and other musical instruments, Jdg 11:34 . See MUSIC.\par
Timbrel. (Hebrew, toph). In old English, tabor was used for any drum. Tabouret and tambourine are diminutives of tabor, and denote the instrument, now known as the tambourine. Tabret is a contraction of tabouret. The Hebrew, toph is, undoubtedly, the instrument described by travellers as the duff or diff of the Arabs. It was played principally by women, Exo 15:20; Jdg 11:34; 1Sa 18:6; Psa 68:25, as an accompaniment to the song and dance. The diff of the Arabs is described, by Russell, as "a hoop, (sometimes with pieces of brass fixed in it, to make a jingling), over which a piece of parchment is stretched. It is beaten with the fingers, and is the true tympanum of the ancients." In Barbary, it is called tar.
(See MUSIC.) Hebrew
See TABRET.
TIMBREL.—See Tabret, and Music, etc., 4 (3) (a).