only in the title of Ps 5. It is probably derived from a root meaning "to bore," "perforate," and hence denotes perforated wind instruments of all kinds. The psalm may be thus regarded as addressed to the conductor of the temple choir which played on flutes and such-like instruments.

Title of Psalm 5, Gesenius explains, "upon the flutes," from chalil a "perforated instrument", chaalal ("to bore"); a direction "to the chief musician" that it was to be sung to wind instruments in the temple service; compare Ps 87:7, "players on instruments," i.e. flute or pipe players (cholelim, Gesenius), "dancers" (Hengstenberg, from chuwl). Hengstenberg on Psalm 5 title objects, el ("upon") is never used to introduce the instruments. The title enigmatically and poetically expresses the subject. Septuagint translated "concerning the heiress"; so Vulgate. She is the church, possessing the Lord as her "inheritance" (Ps 16:5), or possessed by Him as "His inheritance" (De 32:9). The plural "upon the inheritances" marks the plurality of members in the church; or else "upon the lots," namely, the twofold inheritances, blessing from God to the righteous, misery to the wicked.

Nehi'loth

This word occurs only in the heading of Ps. 5. It is supposed to refer to some wind instrument or choir, but its meaning is uncertain.

Nehiloth.

The title of

Ps 5:1

in the Authorized Version is rendered "To the chief musician upon Nehiloth." It is most likely that nehiloth is the general term for perforated wind-instruments of all kinds, as neginoth denotes all manner of stringed instruments.