cha.lil denotes a musical instrument heard in celebratory, festive, and mournful settings in the Bible.

The attested uses present cha.lil as a musical instrument: it is played in public rejoicing, named among instruments in a prophetic procession and at feasts, accompanies a journey to a holy feast, and supplies the comparison for mourning.

1. Instrument in music, celebration, and feasting · dominant

   The singular form occurs among other instruments before the prophesying band in 1 Samuel 10:5; the APB renders the list with “flute.” In 1 Kings 1:40 the plural form is played as the people rejoice, while Isaiah 30:29 and Isaiah 5:12 place the singular in settings of a holy feast and feasts respectively.

   1 Kings 1:401 Samuel 10:5Isaiah 30:29Isaiah 5:12
2. Comparison for lamenting sound · rare

   In Jeremiah 48:36, plural forms occur in the comparison describing a heart that moans for Moab and for the men of Kir-hareseth; the APB renders the comparison “like flutes.”

   Jeremiah 48:36

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB consistently uses “flute” or “flutes” in the supplied verses, whether the instrument is played, listed with other instruments, or used in a comparison for moaning. These renderings confirm the verse contexts rather than establish finer distinctions.