Numbers 10:1-10
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” (Numbers 10:1-2)
With more than a million people, communication becomes a problem. Throughout history, because their loud penetrating sound can be heard for long distances, trumpets and horns have been used to communicate with large or widely spread groups by many cultures. God directed Moses to make two trumpets of silver for communicating with the people. The shape and material it is made of affect the tone of a trumpet, and most trumpets of the time were made of rams horns. The silver ones would have a different and readily identifiable sound.
“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.” (Numbers 10:3-4)
If both trumpets were blown, the entire congregation was to assemble, but if only one sounded, only the council of leaders were summoned to meet. It was a simple and easily identified signal that the entire congregation could understand.
“When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.” (Numbers 10:5-7)
When preparing for march, a particular alarm signal was played to tell the camp of Judah, composed of the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon to move out. When the alarm sounded the second time, the camp of Reuben, composed of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Simeon would move out. They would be followed by Moses and the Levites, and the other camps were to fall in behind them. The later groups would not need a signal as they could see when the group before them passed by. The alarm was only to be used when setting out to march, or in emergencies. It was not to be blown in regular assemblies.
“And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.” (Numbers 10:8)
The priests were responsible for communication with the people, and that responsibility was to be theirs as long as there was a nation of Israel.
“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9)
When going into battle they were to sound their alarm, and know that God was with them and would save them from their enemies. Several times when God revealed himself to Israel in Exodus, he did so with the prolonged sound of a trumpet, and the sound of the trumpet was to remind them of their covenant with God.
“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 10:10)
The trumpets were also to be sounded in celebrations and holy days, and on the first of the month, again reminding them of God revealing himself and making his covenant with them. They were to be sounded over various offerings to God. Unfortunately, the Jews had perverted the practice to glorifying themselves rather than God in Jesus’ day, which is what he condemned in Matthew 6:1-4. It is the attitude and intent, rather than the action itself which makes it pleasing to God.
The use of the trumpets to communicate is also referred to in I Corinthians 14:8-9 in explaining the proper place and use of tongues in the church. “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.” As Paul explains, a signal has no value unless people understand what it means. God intended the people to know what was said.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” (Numbers 10:1-2)
With more than a million people, communication becomes a problem. Throughout history, because their loud penetrating sound can be heard for long distances, trumpets and horns have been used to communicate with large or widely spread groups by many cultures. God directed Moses to make two trumpets of silver for communicating with the people. The shape and material it is made of affect the tone of a trumpet, and most trumpets of the time were made of rams horns. The silver ones would have a different and readily identifiable sound.
“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.” (Numbers 10:3-4)
If both trumpets were blown, the entire congregation was to assemble, but if only one sounded, only the council of leaders were summoned to meet. It was a simple and easily identified signal that the entire congregation could understand.
“When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.” (Numbers 10:5-7)
When preparing for march, a particular alarm signal was played to tell the camp of Judah, composed of the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon to move out. When the alarm sounded the second time, the camp of Reuben, composed of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Simeon would move out. They would be followed by Moses and the Levites, and the other camps were to fall in behind them. The later groups would not need a signal as they could see when the group before them passed by. The alarm was only to be used when setting out to march, or in emergencies. It was not to be blown in regular assemblies.
“And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.” (Numbers 10:8)
The priests were responsible for communication with the people, and that responsibility was to be theirs as long as there was a nation of Israel.
“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9)
When going into battle they were to sound their alarm, and know that God was with them and would save them from their enemies. Several times when God revealed himself to Israel in Exodus, he did so with the prolonged sound of a trumpet, and the sound of the trumpet was to remind them of their covenant with God.
“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 10:10)
The trumpets were also to be sounded in celebrations and holy days, and on the first of the month, again reminding them of God revealing himself and making his covenant with them. They were to be sounded over various offerings to God. Unfortunately, the Jews had perverted the practice to glorifying themselves rather than God in Jesus’ day, which is what he condemned in Matthew 6:1-4. It is the attitude and intent, rather than the action itself which makes it pleasing to God.
The use of the trumpets to communicate is also referred to in I Corinthians 14:8-9 in explaining the proper place and use of tongues in the church. “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.” As Paul explains, a signal has no value unless people understand what it means. God intended the people to know what was said.
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