Reference: Dance
Easton
found in Jg 21:21,23; Ps 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Jer 31:4,13, etc., as the translation of hul, which points to the whirling motion of Oriental sacred dances. It is the rendering of a word (rakad') which means to skip or leap for joy, in Ec 3:4; Job 21:11; Isa 13:21, etc.
In the New Testament it is in like manner the translation of different Greek words, circular motion (Lu 15:25); leaping up and down in concert (Mt 11:17), and by a single person (Mt 14:6).
It is spoken of as symbolical of rejoicing (Ec 3:4. Comp. Ps 30:11; Mt 11:17). The Hebrews had their sacred dances expressive of joy and thanksgiving, when the performers were usually females (Ex 15:20; 1Sa 18:6).
The ancient dance was very different from that common among Western nations. It was usually the part of the women only (Ex 15:20; Jg 11:34; comp. Jg 5:1). Hence the peculiarity of David's conduct in dancing before the ark of the Lord (2Sa 6:14). The women took part in it with their timbrels. Michal should, in accordance with the example of Miriam and others, have herself led the female choir, instead of keeping aloof on the occasion and "looking through the window." David led the choir "uncovered", i.e., wearing only the ephod or linen tunic. He thought only of the honour of God, and forgot himself.
From being reserved for occasions of religious worship and festivity, it came gradually to be practised in common life on occasions of rejoicing (Jer 31:4). The sexes among the Jews always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone (Mt 14:6).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes.
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes.
And Jephthah will come to Mizpeh to his house, and behold, his daughter will come forth to his meeting with drums and with lutes: and she the only begotten; not to him beside her, son nor daughter.
And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh shall come forth to dance in dances, and come ye out from the vineyards and catch for yourselves each his wife from the daughters of Shiloh) and go to the land of Benjamin.
And the sons of Benjamin will do so, and they will take wives for their number from those dancing, which they took by force: and they will go and turn back to their inheritance, and they will build cities, and they will dwell in them.
And David leaping with all strength before Jehovah: and David was girded with a linen ephod.
They will send forth their children as a flock, and their children will leap.
Thou didst turn my wailing to dancing to me: thou didst loose my sackcloth, and thou wilt gird me with gladness;
Thou didst turn my wailing to dancing to me: thou didst loose my sackcloth, and thou wilt gird me with gladness;
They shall praise his name in the dance, and they shall play to him upon the drum and harp.
Praise him with the drum and the dance: praise ye him with strings and the pipe.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
And inhabitants of the desert reclined there, and their houses were filled with howlings, and the daughters of the ostrich dwelt there, and he goats shall leap there.
I will yet build thee, and thou wert built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt yet be adorned with the tabret, and thou wentest forth into the dance of those playing.
I will yet build thee, and thou wert built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt yet be adorned with the tabret, and thou wentest forth into the dance of those playing.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old men together: and I turned their mourning to joy, and I comforted them and caused them to rejoice from their sorrow.
And saying, We played the flute to you, and ye moved not; we lamented to you and ye lamented not.
And saying, We played the flute to you, and ye moved not; we lamented to you and ye lamented not.
The festivities of Herod's birthday being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.
The festivities of Herod's birthday being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.
And his elder son was in the field: and coming, as he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and dances.
Fausets
machol, literally, moving or leaping in a circle. Gesenius however translates machalath "a stringed instrument," and machol "dancing" Mendelssohn makes machol, "a hollow musical instrument" (Ps 150:4, margin) Expressing joy, as contrasted with mourning (Ec 3:4; Ps 30:11). The woman nearest of kin to the champion in some national triumph or thanksgiving, and who had a kind of public character with her own sex, led a choir of women; as Miriam (Ex 15:1-20) (while Moses led the men), Jephthah's daughter (Jg 11:34), Deborah (Judges 5) (while Barak led the men). Some song or refrain in antiphonal answer. forming the burden of the song, accompanied the dance (Ex 32:18-19; 1Sa 18:7; 21:11). The women are represented as "coming out" to do this and meet the hero.
Miriam went out before "Jehovah, the Man of war" (Ex 15:3,20-21), and answered the entire chorus. But the women glorifying Saul and David, having no leader, "answered one another." The special feature of David's conduct before the returning ark (2Sa 6:5-22) is that he was choir leader, the women with their timbrels (2Sa 6:5,19-20,22) taking a prominent part. Michal ought to have led them; but jealousy of David's other wives, married while she was with Phaltiel, and attachment to the latter (2Sa 3:15-16), and the feeling that David's zeal rebuked her apathy, led her to "come out to meet" him with sneers not songs.
The dance necessitated his taking off his royal upper robes to "dance with all his might." This she called "uncovering himself in the eyes of the handmaids." His leading thought was to do honor to God who had delivered him from all his enemies (1Ch 13:8,14; 2Sa 6:21-23). Enthusiasm was kindled by these religious dances, which enlisted at once the tongue and the other members of the body in acts of worship; which explains Ps 35:10. David says, "All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto Thee?" the very language that the Israelites, while the women danced to the Lord, uttered as their song after the Red Sea deliverance (Ex 15:11). The dance, however, was generally left to women (Jg 21:19-23). It is mentioned as a censure on their looseness that "the people rose up to play" at Aaron's calf festival (Ex 32:6; 1Co 10:7), also that the Amalekites were "dancing" (1Sa 30:16).
The woman leader usually in the East leads off the dance, and the other women exactly follow her graceful movements. In Song 6:13 allusion possibly is made in the "two armies" to two rows of female dancers vis-avis in performing; but the spiritual sense refers to the two parts of the one church army, the militant and the triumphant. Dancing accompanied festivity of a secular kind (Jer 31:4,13; La 5:15; Lu 15:25), especially that of women and children (Job 21:11; Mt 11:17). Dancing by men and women together was unknown; as indeed the oriental seclusion of women from men would alone have sufficed to make it seem indecorous. Maimonides says that in the joyous Feast of Tabernacles the women danced separately in an apartment above, and the men danced below. Herod's extravagant promise to Herodias' daughter shows that it was a rare deed in those regions (Mr 6:22-23).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then will Moses sing, and the sons of Israel, this song to Jehovah; and they will speak, saying, I will sing to Jehovah, for exalting himself, he was exalted: the horse and his horsemen he threw into the sea.
Then will Moses sing, and the sons of Israel, this song to Jehovah; and they will speak, saying, I will sing to Jehovah, for exalting himself, he was exalted: the horse and his horsemen he threw into the sea. Jehovah my strength and song, and he shall be to me for salvation: this my God, and I will cause him to rest; the God of my father, and I will exalt him.
Jehovah my strength and song, and he shall be to me for salvation: this my God, and I will cause him to rest; the God of my father, and I will exalt him. Jehovah, a man of war: Jehovah his name.
Jehovah, a man of war: Jehovah his name.
Jehovah, a man of war: Jehovah his name.
Jehovah, a man of war: Jehovah his name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he threw into the sea; his chosen rulers sank in the sea of sedge.
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he threw into the sea; his chosen rulers sank in the sea of sedge. The depths will cover them: they will go down into the deep as a stone.
The depths will cover them: they will go down into the deep as a stone. Thy right hand, Jehovah, was magnified in strength: thy right hand, Jehovah, will break in pieces the enemy.
Thy right hand, Jehovah, was magnified in strength: thy right hand, Jehovah, will break in pieces the enemy. And in the multitude of thy majesty thou wilt destroy those rising up against thee: thou wilt send forth thine anger; it shall eat them as straw.
And in the multitude of thy majesty thou wilt destroy those rising up against thee: thou wilt send forth thine anger; it shall eat them as straw. And by the spirit of thine anger the waters shook them off, the flowings stood up as a heap: the depths were contracted in the heart of the sea.
And by the spirit of thine anger the waters shook them off, the flowings stood up as a heap: the depths were contracted in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will enclose, I will divide the spoil: my soul shall be filled with them: I will draw out my sword, my hand shall dispossess them.
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will enclose, I will divide the spoil: my soul shall be filled with them: I will draw out my sword, my hand shall dispossess them. Thou didst blow with thy spirit; the sea covered them: they rolled down as lead in the great waters.
Thou didst blow with thy spirit; the sea covered them: they rolled down as lead in the great waters. Who like thee among the gods, O Jehovah? who like thee magnified in in holiness, wonderful in praise, doing a wonder?
Who like thee among the gods, O Jehovah? who like thee magnified in in holiness, wonderful in praise, doing a wonder?
Who like thee among the gods, O Jehovah? who like thee magnified in in holiness, wonderful in praise, doing a wonder?
Who like thee among the gods, O Jehovah? who like thee magnified in in holiness, wonderful in praise, doing a wonder? Thou didst stretch forth thy right hand, the earth will swallow them.
Thou didst stretch forth thy right hand, the earth will swallow them. Thou didst lead in thy kindness this people thou didst redeem: thou didst conduct with thy strength to thy holy dwelling.
Thou didst lead in thy kindness this people thou didst redeem: thou didst conduct with thy strength to thy holy dwelling. The peoples heard, and they will be angry: pain took those inhabiting Philistia.
The peoples heard, and they will be angry: pain took those inhabiting Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom trembled; the mighty of Moab, trembling, shall take them; all those dwelling in Canaan melted away.
Then the chiefs of Edom trembled; the mighty of Moab, trembling, shall take them; all those dwelling in Canaan melted away. Dread shall fall upon them and terror: by the greatness of thine arm they shall be dumb as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Jehovah: till this people pass over, thou didst buy.
Dread shall fall upon them and terror: by the greatness of thine arm they shall be dumb as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Jehovah: till this people pass over, thou didst buy. Thou shalt bring them in and shalt plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, into the place of thy Sabbath, thou didst make, O Jehovah: a holy place, O Jehovah, which thy hands prepared.
Thou shalt bring them in and shalt plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, into the place of thy Sabbath, thou didst make, O Jehovah: a holy place, O Jehovah, which thy hands prepared. Jehovah shall reign forever and yet
Jehovah shall reign forever and yet For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen, into the sea, and Jehovah will turn back over them the water of the sea: and the sons of Israel went on the dry land in the midst of the sea.
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen, into the sea, and Jehovah will turn back over them the water of the sea: and the sons of Israel went on the dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes.
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes.
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes.
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes. And Miriam will sing to them, Sing ye to Jehovah; for being lifted up, he was lifted up: the horse and his horseman he threw into the sea.
And Miriam will sing to them, Sing ye to Jehovah; for being lifted up, he was lifted up: the horse and his horseman he threw into the sea.
And they will rise early early on the morrow, and they will raise up a burnt-offering, and they will bring near peace; and the people will sit down to eat and drink, and they will rise up to play.
And they will rise early early on the morrow, and they will raise up a burnt-offering, and they will bring near peace; and the people will sit down to eat and drink, and they will rise up to play.
And he will say, Not the voice of the shouting of victory, and not the voice of the shouting of defeat: the voice of shouting I heard.
And he will say, Not the voice of the shouting of victory, and not the voice of the shouting of defeat: the voice of shouting I heard. And it will be when he drew near to the camp, and he will see the calf and the lute: and the wrath of Moses will kindle, and he will cast the tables out of his hand, and he will break them under the mount
And it will be when he drew near to the camp, and he will see the calf and the lute: and the wrath of Moses will kindle, and he will cast the tables out of his hand, and he will break them under the mount
And Jephthah will come to Mizpeh to his house, and behold, his daughter will come forth to his meeting with drums and with lutes: and she the only begotten; not to him beside her, son nor daughter.
And Jephthah will come to Mizpeh to his house, and behold, his daughter will come forth to his meeting with drums and with lutes: and she the only begotten; not to him beside her, son nor daughter.
And they will say, Behold, a festival of Jehovah in Shiloh from days to days, which is from the north to the house of God, from the rising of the sun to the highway going from the house of God to Shechem, and from the south to Lebonah.
And they will say, Behold, a festival of Jehovah in Shiloh from days to days, which is from the north to the house of God, from the rising of the sun to the highway going from the house of God to Shechem, and from the south to Lebonah. And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards;
And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards; And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh shall come forth to dance in dances, and come ye out from the vineyards and catch for yourselves each his wife from the daughters of Shiloh) and go to the land of Benjamin.
And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh shall come forth to dance in dances, and come ye out from the vineyards and catch for yourselves each his wife from the daughters of Shiloh) and go to the land of Benjamin. And it was when their fathers or brothers shall come to contend against us, and we said to them, Be merciful to us with them, because we took not a man his wife in the battle; for ye gave not to them according to the time, ye shall transgress.
And it was when their fathers or brothers shall come to contend against us, and we said to them, Be merciful to us with them, because we took not a man his wife in the battle; for ye gave not to them according to the time, ye shall transgress. And the sons of Benjamin will do so, and they will take wives for their number from those dancing, which they took by force: and they will go and turn back to their inheritance, and they will build cities, and they will dwell in them.
And the sons of Benjamin will do so, and they will take wives for their number from those dancing, which they took by force: and they will go and turn back to their inheritance, and they will build cities, and they will dwell in them.
And he will bring him down, and behold them spread out upon the face of all the earth, eating and drinking and keeping a festival, for all the great spoil which they took from the land of the rovers, and from the land of Judah.
And he will bring him down, and behold them spread out upon the face of all the earth, eating and drinking and keeping a festival, for all the great spoil which they took from the land of the rovers, and from the land of Judah.
And the man of shame will send and take her from the man Phaltiel, son of Laish.
And the man of shame will send and take her from the man Phaltiel, son of Laish. And her husband went with her, going and weeping after her even to Bahurim. And Abner will say to him, Go, turn back And he will turn back.
And her husband went with her, going and weeping after her even to Bahurim. And Abner will say to him, Go, turn back And he will turn back.
And David and all the house of Israel playing before Jehovah upon all cypress woods, and upon harps, and upon lyres and upon drums, and upon timbrels and upon cymbals.
And David and all the house of Israel playing before Jehovah upon all cypress woods, and upon harps, and upon lyres and upon drums, and upon timbrels and upon cymbals.
And David and all the house of Israel playing before Jehovah upon all cypress woods, and upon harps, and upon lyres and upon drums, and upon timbrels and upon cymbals.
And David and all the house of Israel playing before Jehovah upon all cypress woods, and upon harps, and upon lyres and upon drums, and upon timbrels and upon cymbals. And they will come to the threshing-floor of Nachon, and Uzzah will stretch forth to the ark of God and lay hold upon its for the oxen kicked.
And they will come to the threshing-floor of Nachon, and Uzzah will stretch forth to the ark of God and lay hold upon its for the oxen kicked. And the anger of Jehovah will kindle against Uzzah, and God will strike him there for the error, and he will die there with the ark of God.
And the anger of Jehovah will kindle against Uzzah, and God will strike him there for the error, and he will die there with the ark of God. And it will kindle to David because Jehovah broke a breach upon Uzzah: and he will call that place the Breach of Uzzah, even to this day.
And it will kindle to David because Jehovah broke a breach upon Uzzah: and he will call that place the Breach of Uzzah, even to this day. And David was afraid of Jehovah in that day, and he will say, How shall the ark of Jehovah come to me?
And David was afraid of Jehovah in that day, and he will say, How shall the ark of Jehovah come to me? And David would not remove to him the ark of Jehovah to the city of David: and David will turn it to the house of the servant of Obed-Edom the Gititte.
And David would not remove to him the ark of Jehovah to the city of David: and David will turn it to the house of the servant of Obed-Edom the Gititte. And the ark of Jehovah will dwell in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah will bless Obed-Edom and all his house.
And the ark of Jehovah will dwell in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah will bless Obed-Edom and all his house. And it will be announced to king David, saying, Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all which is to him, on account of the ark of God. And David will go and bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with joy.
And it will be announced to king David, saying, Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all which is to him, on account of the ark of God. And David will go and bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with joy. And it will be when they lifting up the ark of Jehovah went six steps, and he will sacrifice oxen and fat things.
And it will be when they lifting up the ark of Jehovah went six steps, and he will sacrifice oxen and fat things. And David leaping with all strength before Jehovah: and David was girded with a linen ephod.
And David leaping with all strength before Jehovah: and David was girded with a linen ephod. And David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of Jehovah with shouts and with the voice of the trumpet,
And David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of Jehovah with shouts and with the voice of the trumpet, And the ark of Jehovah was coming to the city of David, and Michal, Saul's daughter, looked forth without the window, and she will see king David being strengthened and leaping before Jehovah, and she will despise him in her heart.
And the ark of Jehovah was coming to the city of David, and Michal, Saul's daughter, looked forth without the window, and she will see king David being strengthened and leaping before Jehovah, and she will despise him in her heart. And they will bring in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place in the midst of the tent which David stretched out for it: and David will bring up a burnt-offering before Jehovah and peace.
And they will bring in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place in the midst of the tent which David stretched out for it: and David will bring up a burnt-offering before Jehovah and peace. And David will finish bringing up the burnt-offering and the peace, and he will bless the people in the name of Jehovah of armies.
And David will finish bringing up the burnt-offering and the peace, and he will bless the people in the name of Jehovah of armies. And he will distribute to all the people to every sort of Israel, from man and even to woman, to each one cake of bread, and one measure, and one cake: and all the people will go each to his house.
And he will distribute to all the people to every sort of Israel, from man and even to woman, to each one cake of bread, and one measure, and one cake: and all the people will go each to his house.
And he will distribute to all the people to every sort of Israel, from man and even to woman, to each one cake of bread, and one measure, and one cake: and all the people will go each to his house.
And he will distribute to all the people to every sort of Israel, from man and even to woman, to each one cake of bread, and one measure, and one cake: and all the people will go each to his house. And David turned back to bless his house. And Michal, Saul's daughter, will go forth to the meeting of David, and she will say, How honored the king of Israel this day who was uncovered this day to the eyes of the maids of his servants as one of the worthless uncovering was uncovered!
And David turned back to bless his house. And Michal, Saul's daughter, will go forth to the meeting of David, and she will say, How honored the king of Israel this day who was uncovered this day to the eyes of the maids of his servants as one of the worthless uncovering was uncovered!
And David turned back to bless his house. And Michal, Saul's daughter, will go forth to the meeting of David, and she will say, How honored the king of Israel this day who was uncovered this day to the eyes of the maids of his servants as one of the worthless uncovering was uncovered!
And David turned back to bless his house. And Michal, Saul's daughter, will go forth to the meeting of David, and she will say, How honored the king of Israel this day who was uncovered this day to the eyes of the maids of his servants as one of the worthless uncovering was uncovered! And David will say to Michal, Before Jehovah who chose in me above thy father and above all his house, to appoint me leader over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: and I played before Jehovah.
And David will say to Michal, Before Jehovah who chose in me above thy father and above all his house, to appoint me leader over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: and I played before Jehovah. And I was vile yet above this and I was humbled in mine eyes, and with the maids of which thou spakest with them I shall be honored.
And I was vile yet above this and I was humbled in mine eyes, and with the maids of which thou spakest with them I shall be honored.
And I was vile yet above this and I was humbled in mine eyes, and with the maids of which thou spakest with them I shall be honored.
And I was vile yet above this and I was humbled in mine eyes, and with the maids of which thou spakest with them I shall be honored.
And David and all Israel playing before God with all strength, and with songs and with harps, and with lyres, and with drums, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
And David and all Israel playing before God with all strength, and with songs and with harps, and with lyres, and with drums, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
And the ark of God will dwell with the house of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And Jehovah will bless the house of Obed-Edom, and all which is to him.
And the ark of God will dwell with the house of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And Jehovah will bless the house of Obed-Edom, and all which is to him.
They will send forth their children as a flock, and their children will leap.
They will send forth their children as a flock, and their children will leap.
Thou didst turn my wailing to dancing to me: thou didst loose my sackcloth, and thou wilt gird me with gladness;
Thou didst turn my wailing to dancing to me: thou didst loose my sackcloth, and thou wilt gird me with gladness;
All my bones shall say, O Jehovah, who as thee, delivering the poor from him strong above him, and the poor and the needy from him stripping him?
All my bones shall say, O Jehovah, who as thee, delivering the poor from him strong above him, and the poor and the needy from him stripping him?
Praise him with the drum and the dance: praise ye him with strings and the pipe.
Praise him with the drum and the dance: praise ye him with strings and the pipe.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
Turn back, turn back, thou Shulamite; turn back, turn back, and we will look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As the stringed instrument of the camps.
Turn back, turn back, thou Shulamite; turn back, turn back, and we will look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As the stringed instrument of the camps.
I will yet build thee, and thou wert built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt yet be adorned with the tabret, and thou wentest forth into the dance of those playing.
I will yet build thee, and thou wert built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt yet be adorned with the tabret, and thou wentest forth into the dance of those playing.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old men together: and I turned their mourning to joy, and I comforted them and caused them to rejoice from their sorrow.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old men together: and I turned their mourning to joy, and I comforted them and caused them to rejoice from their sorrow.
The joy of our heart ceased; our dance was turned to mourning.
The joy of our heart ceased; our dance was turned to mourning.
And saying, We played the flute to you, and ye moved not; we lamented to you and ye lamented not.
And saying, We played the flute to you, and ye moved not; we lamented to you and ye lamented not.
And the daughter of this Herodias, having come in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those reclining together at table, the king said to the little girl, Ask me whatever thou wishest, and I will give thee.
And the daughter of this Herodias, having come in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those reclining together at table, the king said to the little girl, Ask me whatever thou wishest, and I will give thee. And he swore to her, That whatever thou shouldest ask, I will give thee, even to half my kingdom.
And he swore to her, That whatever thou shouldest ask, I will give thee, even to half my kingdom.
And his elder son was in the field: and coming, as he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and dances.
And his elder son was in the field: and coming, as he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and dances.
Smith
Dance.
The dance is spoken of in Holy Scripture universally as symbolical of some rejoicing, and is often coupled for the sake of contrast with mourning, as in
comp. Psal 30:11; Matt 11:17 In the earlier period it is found combined with some song or refrain,
and with the tambourine (Authorized Version "timbrel"), more especially in those impulsive outbursts of popular feeling which cannot find sufficient vent in voice or in gesture singly. Dancing formed a part of the religious ceremonies of the Egyptians, and was also common in private entertainments. For the most part dancing was carried on by the women, the two sexes seldom and not customarily intermingling. The one who happened to be near of kin to the champion of the hour led the dance. In the earlier period of the Judges the dances of the virgins of Shiloh.
were certainly part of a religious festivity. Dancing also had its place among merely festive amusements, apart from any religious character.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, will take the drum in her hand; and all the women will go forth after her, with drums and with lutes.
And he will say, Not the voice of the shouting of victory, and not the voice of the shouting of defeat: the voice of shouting I heard. And it will be when he drew near to the camp, and he will see the calf and the lute: and the wrath of Moses will kindle, and he will cast the tables out of his hand, and he will break them under the mount
And they will say, Behold, a festival of Jehovah in Shiloh from days to days, which is from the north to the house of God, from the rising of the sun to the highway going from the house of God to Shechem, and from the south to Lebonah. And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards; read more. And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh shall come forth to dance in dances, and come ye out from the vineyards and catch for yourselves each his wife from the daughters of Shiloh) and go to the land of Benjamin. And it was when their fathers or brothers shall come to contend against us, and we said to them, Be merciful to us with them, because we took not a man his wife in the battle; for ye gave not to them according to the time, ye shall transgress. And the sons of Benjamin will do so, and they will take wives for their number from those dancing, which they took by force: and they will go and turn back to their inheritance, and they will build cities, and they will dwell in them.
I will yet build thee, and thou wert built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt yet be adorned with the tabret, and thou wentest forth into the dance of those playing.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old men together: and I turned their mourning to joy, and I comforted them and caused them to rejoice from their sorrow.
And the daughter of this Herodias, having come in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those reclining together at table, the king said to the little girl, Ask me whatever thou wishest, and I will give thee.