This book contains the first study of the musical culture of ancient Israel/Palestine based primarily on the archaeological record. Noted musicologist Joachim Braun explores the music of the Holy Land region of the Middle East, tracing its form and development from its beginnings in the Stone Age, through the Bronze and Iron ages, and into late Roman times—a span of time ranging from the twelfth millennium B.C. to the fourth century A.D. This is not a study of "music in the Bible" or music in "biblical times" but a unique, in-depth investigation of the historical periods and cultures that influenced the music of the region and its people. Braun combines significant archaeological findings—musical instruments, terra cotta and metal figures, etched stone illustrations, mosaics—with evidence drawn from written (mainly biblical) texts and anthropological, sociological, and linguistic sources. The portrait Braun assembles of this past musical world is both fascinating and innovative, suggesting a reconsideration of many views long accepted by tradition. Enhanced with approximately 200 illustrations, this exceptional work will be a valued resource for scholars, students, and general readers interested in the history of music, biblical studies, the ancient Near East, Jewish studies, and the Holy Land.