Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 150

Sanctuary— That is, the temple. Some take it in direct parallelism with firmament, and understand the “heavenly palace,” or “Temple” ; but, as in Psalms 148:0, the invocation to praise includes heaven and earth; so here, but in the reverse order, the earthly sanctuary first, and the sublime things done on earth (Psalms 150:2), then heaven and the exalted greatness there.

Mighty acts ... excellent greatness.— The one displayed on earth, the other manifested in heaven. (See preceding Note.)

Trumpet.— Heb., shôphar. (Psalms 98:6. Septuagint, σάλπιγξ.) It was the crooked horn, sometimes also called keren. (Bïble Educator, 2:231.)

Psaltery and harp.— See Note, Psalms 33:2.

Timbrel and dance.— See Psalms 149:3.

Stringed instruments.— Minnîm. Literally, parts, so threads, so here, as in the Septuagint and Vulgate, “with” or “on strings.” (See Note, Psalms 45:9.)

Organs.— Hebrew, ‘ugab, which has been variously identified with the syrinx, or Pan’s pipes, of the Greeks, with the “bagpipe,” and even with a rude instrument embodying the principle of the modern organ. (See Bible Educator, 2:70, 183, 229.)

Cymbals. —Hebrew, tseltselîm (2 Samuel 6:5), a word evidently formed to express the sound of the instrument. Two kinds are evidently indicated in this verse, the “loud” cymbals (literally, cymbals of hearing) , and “high-sounding” (literally, of tumult) . As the Arabs use at present a larger and smaller instrument (see Bible Educator, 2, 211, 311), it is possible that the same distinction is made here, but which would be the larger instrument it is impossible from the Hebrew to determine.