Rhythmic bodily movement, often to music. As a sign of rejoicing, dance had a place in the secular and religious life of ancient Israel. Dance could be accompanied by song and instrumental music. Women customarily greeted the return of victorious soldiers with music and dance (1Sam 18:6). Dancing had a role at the old harvest festival at Shiloh (Judg 21:21). Dance could be performed in the worship of God (Ps 149:3). When David led the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he danced before the Lord (2Sam 6:14), a performance his wife Michal thought unseemly. The Song of Songs celebrates the dance of the Shulammite (Song 6:13). Dance also played a role in the religions of Israel’s neighbors. Dance before the golden calf (Exod 32:19) represents a pagan practice. In the NT, dance is part of the celebration of the return of the prodigal son (Luke 15:25). Dancers were sometimes engaged for entertainment at royal courts in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds (Matt 14:6).
