6.14.25 ~ The Hammered Silver Trumpets

Good morning!

It won't be long and the day of Trumpets/yom teruah will be here! Shabbat shalom and happy 14th day of counting towards the first fruit of the wine. 

We are getting closer to Yom Teruah, the first of the fall moedim/appointed times. Every fall we get an opportunity to experience some additional insights on the holidays prophetically and practically.

Leviticus 23:23-25 introduces the Day of Trumpets, one of Yahweh's appointed times. Beside the regular instructions concerning a holy day, such as avoiding work, two words are unique for this feast: Zichron Teruah – “memory of trumpetblowing”. In Numbers 29:1 it’s called ‘Yom Teruah’ – “a day of trumpet blowing”. What is this day? What is its significance?

In this week's Torah portion, Behaalotecha, in Numbers 10:1-10, God tells Moses to hammer out two silver trumpets (Num. 10:2) for the movements within the camp (gathering for collective meetings, leader gatherings, movements of the camp and going out to war). Within these 10 verses we have the explanation on how they are to be used. 

A careful reading reveals two different sounds, serving for different purposes: ‘Tekia’ and’ Teruah’, usually translated as regular blowing and blowing an alarm. The first, Tekia, serves for gathering the people. One trumpet calls just for the leaders and two trumpets call for the whole congregation. In addition, the trumpets are blown on the appointed feasts and on the first days of the month(s) (verse 10). The sound of the trumpets will be “as a reminder of you before your God”.

The Teruah serves as a sign for the camp to set out. When Israel will be in their land it will serve them in times of war, will again be a reminder of them before Yahweh, and he will save them from their enemies (Num. 10:35).

So the trumpets were blown on all the moedim/appointed times, not just on the Day of Trumpets/yom teruah, but even on all the first days of each month. But this day is the day of Teruah, not Tekia. It is not the day of the sound for gathering, but that of setting out and of victory.

There is another meaning in Torah for Teruah, mentioned in Leviticus 25. ‘Shnat Hayovel’, the year of Jubilee, the year of freedom, of releasing slaves, of redeeming the lands, is proclaimed by a Shofar’s Teruah, sounding on the Day of Atonement! This connects Teruah to freedom as well.

Interesting to note that in the conquest of Jericho, when the priests were blowing the trumpets, according to Num. 10:9, they were using the “Trumpets of Jubilee”! (Josh 6 and Lev. 25). In any case, the people shouted a great Teruah, and the wall of Jericho fell down!

Psalm 89:15 says “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound (literally, who know Teruah)! O Lord, they walk in the light of your countenance".

There is much more depth to this then I know, but based on all its usage I think we can conclude that it is connected to freedom, victory, progress and moving forward as opposed to standing in one place, and above all, to Yahweh's protection and blessing, for “blessed are the people who know Teruah!

As I'll share in this morning's zoom call, there are three vessels associated with the Tabernacle that are hammered (The cherubim that cover the ark, the menorah and the silver trumpets). Enquiring minds want to know, what do these have in common and what does this mean for us here in the 21st century??

The sound of His Trumpet is coming. Keep preparing :-)

Shabbat shalom!
Alan



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