What are…
Shoshannim

Hebrew: שׁוּשַׁן —transliteration: shushan or shoshan / feminine: shoshannah —meaning: lily (or any lily-like flower) / plural: shoshannim —meaning: lilies

This is the name for lily flowers and possibily of some ancient musical instrument, possibly lily-like in shape (Psalm 45 and Psalm 69, title—“For the choir director; according to Shoshannim. A Psalm of David.”

If the word lily was used as a name for an instrument, it was possibly a trumpet. Although some suggest a 6-string instrument is meant.

It is also possible the word does not refer to an instrument at all, but to an ancient tune called “Lilies.”

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Article Version: August 25, 2019