Maschil. — Found prelixed to 13 psalms, viz. 32. 42. 44. 45. 52-55. 74. 78. 88. 89. 142. Heb. 'j-jv"?, LXX avviaeiiii, fi? avv(tsi.v. Cf. 47' V'^B'D iioi, ' make melody in a skilful strain ' (cf. IlVm) ; Targ. ' with good understanding.' Gesenius renders, 'a didactic poem,' which does not lit many of the psalms mentioned above. Delitzsch understands it as indicating a 'contemplative' psalm ('^'J^.t prop, 'consider,' 'attend to,' cf. Ps lOl* [RVm] 106'); Rashi interprets by reference to 2 Ch 30-'-, the
Levites that ' had good understanding (or were well skilled) [apparently in music] for J". So far as etymolofry serves us, the title probably indicates a contemplative composition, but in process of time the original meaning probably passed away and it came to mean little more than a poem (cf. iroli]iui,).
Michtara, Ps 16 and 56-60 n:j:n, LXX cT-qXo- •ypcLtpla. — So Gesenius, who says anD = scribere, ODD = inscribere ; the meaning in tug. would imply a carefully-fashioned, ' emblazoned ' psalm ; but this meaning of the root cnD is wholly uncertain. Another suggested derivation connects with Dnj and would give the rendering ' a golden psalm ' ; so Luther. The word is also used in Is 38^ of Hezekiah's dirge, but it is not easy to detect any features which tlie various compositions to which the word is applied possess in common.
Iluth-labben, Ps 9 |5^ rea-'jy, LXX irip tS>v Kpv(plai' Tov I'loO, Vulg. pro occultis (Jer. pro morte) Jilii, Targ. 'concerning the death of man (who came forth) between (the armies).' All these tr"* show that tlie phrase was not understood, and the ignorance of the ancients is shared by the moderns. Grammar will not allow of the rendering 'death of the son,' i.e. Absalom, even if such a meaning were appropriate. In all probability this is the name oi a tune ; but whether it should be rendered ' Die for the son ' or (with other pointing) ' Death makes white,' it ia impossible to say, and cannot really signify.
Neginoth. — Found in six psalms — i. 6. 54. 55. 67. 76 nirm, and once in 61 nr:r>i', cf. Hab 3", LXX iv \paKiJLoti, Jerome in psalmi.',: The word means unquestionably ' on stringed instruments ' ; it ia always found after the phrase ' For the chief musician,' and indicates that the psalm is to be sung to an accom])aninient of stringed music, cf. 1 Ch 15''. Neginath is Generally understood as the same word with an old feminine ending (Ges.); or, according to Massoretic punctuation, closely joined with le-Dciuid, it would mean ' in the Davidic stj'le of stringed music'
Nehiloth, Ps 5 mynjrrSN, LXX iirr^p ttjs KX-npovo- liSvffTji, asif nS-Jn, Jerome pro hcereditatibus. Gener- ally understood as=D'V^D. meaning ' to the accom- paniment of llutes' or wind-instruments. That flutes were used in worship, is shown by Is 30-^. Baethgen objects that tlie usual word for flute might be expected here, and understands Nehiloth as the name of a tune.
Remembrance, To bring to, Ps 38 and 70 r^rh, LXX eis avaiivriaiv (adding in 70, (h t6 awaal lu Kvpiov), Jerome in commemornndum, ad recordan- duni. Is it to be understood, however, that God is to remember the psalmist, or the psalmist to re- member God ? Both views have been taken. The Targ., followed by Delitzsch, finds a reference to the Azkarah (di'd/ttj'ijo-is) part of the sacrifice of the Minhah, when a portion was thrown upon the fire an<l tlie smoke was supposed to bring the worshipper into the Divine remembrance. See Lv 24'- *, and connect with title in LXX vepl aa^^arov. But the word is found in 1 Ch 16^, when certain Levites were appointed to minister before the ark, and ' to record (AV), ' celebrate ' (KV), as well as to thank and praise J" ; and perhaps this more general meaning of worshipping, in the sense of not for- getting the Divine DeneCts, is the more probable meaning here.
Sheminith, Ps 6 and 12 nrPrH', LXX iirip t^s 6y56-iii, ' upon the octave or the eighth,' cf. 1 Ch 15". The piirase either refers to a special kind of stringed instrument with eight strings, or means perhaps ' in the bass,' cf. 'ai-'ylM»«/iA= soprano. ' In a lower octave,' the reverse of the modern octave (Lowe).
Shiggaion, Ps 7 P'jy', LXX \paXiiis — /xeri vSijs, Jerome pro ignoratione (after Theod. Symm., and see Ps 19'' 'errors'). — The word is found in the
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plural in Hab 3'. As derived from njr ' to wander,' Jiwald, Dehtzsch, and others give the meanin<; of a ' dithyrambic song,' one characterized by \ariou3 feelings or rlij-thms. Gesenius, with hesitation, renders cantu^ suavis. There appears to be nothing eitlier in etymology, tradition, or the character of the two psalms in question to guide modern readers definitely to the meaning of tliia word.
Shoshannim, Shushan-'Eduth, Ps 45 and C9 '^y C';;s-, Ps 60 nnj; i»is"'7i, Ps 80 V-^x, LXX iiirip tCiv dWotuOriffo/Uvoir (c-js'? from root n:c ' to change' ), Jerome pro liliis iestimonii. — Rashi understands as an instrument of six strings. Probably the name of a tune (Ibn Ezra and moderns) 'set to the melody of Lilies, or Lilies of the Testimony.' ' Pure as a lily is the Testimony,' i.e. the Law (Ewald).