The Trumpets of Israel
What are the Trumpets of Israel?
The Trumpets of Israel! These instruments are true staples of the kingdom. If we can recall the context of the famed “walls of Jericho” narrative, we know that the blowing of the trumpets was key to Israel’s first major victory in the land. If that doesn’t make them essential keys to the kingdom, I don’t know what does. However, there is much more to the trumpets that brought the house down on that triumphant day.
When we go to war in our land. We know the context is talking about the land of Israel, however that does not negate that the trumpets, are weapons of war against the oppressors that attack us. In such a trying time as we are living in today, this should make us want to know more about these trumpets. After all, it seems like the other side is certainly revving up and using their weapons of attack, against The Kingdom. This is a brief introduction to the trumpets of the bible. So, what are these instruments of salvation?
Two Main Types of Trumpets??
First, for our general knowledge, there are two types of trumpets mentioned in scripture regarding the Kingdom of Israel. We have the ram’s horn or shofar in Hebrew and the silver trumpet or in Hebrew, chatsotserah (hats-o-sera). Here are two verses that use our respective words, starting with shofar.
Next up we have the silver trumpets!
The immediate difference between the two types is that the shofar is a singular instrument and the chatsotserah (hats-o-sera) are a tandem, that are to be blown together. Additional distinctions between the two are that the ram’s horn is just that, a curved horn from an actual ram. The silver trumpets are as described in Numbers 10:2, two horns made of a singular piece of silver each.
The ram’s horn shofar is still very much in use among trumpeters today. This is not the same for the silver trumpets, perhaps because they were to be blown only by members of the priesthood. However, there is a third type of horn that may be as recognizable as the ram’s horn and more popular than the silver trumpets, at least for sounding. The Yemenite shofar. The Yemenite horn comes from the kudu, an antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. It is not specifically mentioned in scripture yet is universally accepted as another type of shofar and is very common among trumpeters.
All that said, these musical marvels have made some noteworthy appearances throughout the bible. Here are some of those remarkable accounts.
The Sound of the Shofar: Father's Voice
Father spoke to Israel from shamayim (heaven), and Israel themselves were witness to it. But what they experienced was the thunder, lightning, sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. The text is pointing to the notion that maybe Israel could not perceive that Father was indeed speaking to them. They were too afraid of the sounds of thunder and the shofar. The thundering and shofar sounding indicating that His voice was like the two of those blasting at once. By backing up from here almost one exact chapter, we gain some amazing revelation.
In this verse the sound of the shofar grew louder, Moses spoke to Father and Father answered with a voice. The Hebrew word for sound in this verse is kole. Kole is also the exact word translated as sound in this same verse. So, the sound of the shofar or trumpet is equated to our Father’s voice. Amazing!!!
The Silver Trumpets:
Weapons of War Sounding Salvation
If we add this principle to our notion that Father’s voice can be equated to the sounding of a shofar, then can we deduce the same about the silver trumpets? Consider that they are to be blown by the kohanim or priest, who are the administrators of Israel. Depending on the type of sound that was played and if both or just one of the two were blown, Israel had to know how to react in proper order. In fact, the sounding of an alarm during wartime would bring about deliverance from the hand of their enemies.
Sounding the Trumpets!
Now that we have gone over the various types of trumpets, let’s talk about their sounds.
Blowing or sounding the trumpets takes a bit of practice. There is a level of skill that can be learned by following the specific patterns to sound each type of trumpet. The trumpets are played via three sets of blasts, in three repetitions of three notes, each one being different.
Names of the Trumpet Blasts:
1) teki’ah–one long blast
2) shevarim–three broken sounds
3) teru’ah‑-nine staccato notes.
Pattern of Trumpet:
1) teki’ah‑shevarim teru’ah‑tekiah;
2) teki’ah‑shevarim‑teki’ah;
3) teki’ah‑teru’ah‑teki’ah.
I don’t know about you but when I think of Trumpet blasts, I can’t help but to think about Revelation 8.
The 7 Trumps???????
The renown “7 trumpets” are etched in many of our minds but mostly likely for what they represent, not what they are. These would be the silver trumpets, blown by the priest. The temple language such as altar and incense give it away. On another note, verse 5 uses language very similar to Exodus 19, e.g. fire, thundering, lightning, and voices.
"The First Trump," "The Last Trump," "The Great Trump,"
Trump, trump, trump…no I’m not shaking my head about our President, LOL!. I’m talking about the abbreviation of trumpets. When we start mentioning specific “trumps” we have 3 major ones to inspect.
3 Specific Trumpets:
1) "The First Trump," blown and associated with Shavuot (Pentecost);
2) "The Last Trump," blown and associated with Rosh HaShanah (Yom Teruah);
3) "The Great Trump," blown and associated with Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement).
In addition to these appointed times the trumpet was blown on Shabbat and to proclaim the Yovel or Jubilee.
You've Been Trumped!!!
So, from an amazing connection to our Father’s voice, to the entire camp’s call to move out, these trumpets are amazing! From Exodus and the giving of the Torah to the seven trumpets of Revelation we must say that these are kingdom tools we need to be very aware of. We have just scratched the surface on the significance of trumpets in the bible.
Ram’s horn, Yemenite horn, silver trumpets oh my! If you don’t have one, get you one! kingship, warfare, salvation, and jubilation are all associated with one or all of them. Our personal testimony is one of praise for our Father! We sound our trumpets in prayer, worship, and appointed times! Keeping it inside or carrying it on the go, it is literally a blast and teaches us some outstanding Principles. Perhaps the number one lesson is to shema, listen to, His voice.
Israel put their fear off on Moses instead of focusing in and listening to Father for themselves. They were afraid of the sound of His voice. How many people do you know today, who are afraid to hear His voice?