Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 81:2

"Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery." — Psalms 81:2 (ASV)

Take a psalm - literally, “Lift up a psalm; perhaps, as we should say, “Raise the tune.” Or, it may mean, Take an ode, a hymn, a psalm, composed for the occasion, and accompany it with the instruments of music which are specified.

And bring here the timbrel - For the purpose of praise. On the meaning of this word rendered “timbrel” - תף tôph - see the notes at (Isaiah 5:12).

The pleasant harp - On the word here rendered “harp” - כנור kinnôr - see also the notes at (Isaiah 5:12). The word translated “pleasant” - נעים nâ‛ı̂ym - means properly pleasant, agreeable, sweet, (Psalms 133:1; Psalms 147:1). It is connected here with the word harp, as meaning that that instrument was distinguished particularly for a sweet or pleasant sound.

With the psaltery - On the meaning of the word used here - נבל nebel - see the notes at (Isaiah 5:12). These were the common instruments of music among the Hebrews. They were employed alike on sacred occasions, and in scenes of revelry. See (Isaiah 5:12).