The words [Hebrew: LMNTSCH BNGYNWT], at the head of Psalms iv., liv., lv.,
lxvii., and lxxvi., are rendered in the Septuagint and Vulgate [Greek: eis
to telos], _in finem_, as if they had read [Hebrew: LANETSACH], omitting
the [Hebrew: M] formative. The Syriac and Arabic versions omit this
superscription altogether, from ignorance of the {243} musical sense of the
words. The Chaldee reads [Chaldee: LSHBCH' `L CHNGYT'], "to be sung on the
pipe." The word [Hebrew: LMNTSCH] is (from [Hebrew: NTSCH], to overcome,
excel, or accomplish) a performance, and Aquila translates the entire
title, [Greek: toi nikopoioi en psalmois melodema toi Dauid]; and Jerome,
_Victori in Canticis, Psalmus David_. But Symmachus, [Greek: epinikios dia
psalterion oide]; and Theodotius, [Greek: eis to nikos humnois], who must
have read [Hebrew: LNTSCH]. The best reading is that of the present text,
[Hebrew: LMNTSCH], which Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi render chief singer,
or leader of the band (=_moderatorem chori musici_), as appropriate for a
psalm to sung and played in divine service. Therefore the proper
translation is, "For the leading performer upon the neginoth." The neginoth
appear from the Greek translations, [Greek: dia psalterion] and [Greek: en
psalmois] ([Greek: psallein] = playing on strings). and from its root,
[Hebrew: NGN], _to strike_, to be stringed instruments, struck by the
fingers or hand.
The words [Hebrew: LMNTSCH 'L HNCHYLWT] at the head of Psalm v. (for this
is the only one so superscribed) should, perhaps, be read with [Hebrew: `L]
instead of [Hebrew: 'L] meaning, "For the leading performer on the
nehiloth." The nehiloth appear from the root [Hebrew: CHLL], _to bore
through_, and in Piel, _to play the flute_, to be the same instruments as
the _na-y_ of the Arabs, similar to the English flute, blown, not
transversely as the German flute, but at the end, as the oboe. But the
Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotius translate [Greek: huper tes
kleronomouses]: and hence the Vulgate _pro ea, quae hereditatem
consequitur_; and Jerome, _pro hereditatibus_. Suidas explains [Greek:
kleronomousa] by [Greek: ekklesia], which is the sense of the Syriac.
Psalm vi. is headed [Hebrew: BNGYNWT `L HSHMYNYT], and Psalm vi. [Hebrew:
`L SHMYNYT], without the "neginoth;" and the "sheminith" is also mentioned
(Chron. xv. 21.). The Chaldee and Jarchi translate "Harps of eight
strings." The Septuagint, Vulgate, Aquila, and Jerome, [Greek: huper tes
ogdoes], appear also to have understood an instrument of eight strings.