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When were Silver Trumpets blown?
When was the Ram's Horn blown?
There are various words used to describe the trumpets. So it is helpful to
define these.
Strong's references and definitions:
- H2689 - 
- trumpet
- H8643 - 
- sound of trumpet(s)
- H7782 - 
- shofar, i.e. ram's horn!
- H3104 - 
[NB: The Strong's definition is in
error when it makes reference to
the 'signal of the silver trumpets'.
The KJV translates this Hebrew word
21 times as 'Jubilee', 5 times as
'rams horn(s)' and 1 time as 'trumpet'.
With the only instance where it is
translated 'trumpet', Exod 19:13,
we have verse 16 subsequently
defining this trumpet as the 'shofar'.
Strong's H3104 is never used to
refer to the two silver trumpets!
The meaning is either:
1) Jubilee, or
2) sound of the ram's horn. ]
THE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS 
It was ordered that two silver trumpets were to be made.
Num 10:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
:2 Make two silver trumpets (H2689) for yourself;
you shall make them of hammered work; ...
The silver trumpets were used as follows.
- Blown twice to cause the gathering of all the congregation.
- Blown once to cause the gathering of just the leaders.
- The sounding of the advance/movement of the camps.
- When going to war in your land against an oppressing army
(So as to be remembered by God.)
- In the Day of Gladness blow the trumpets,
i.e. Passover 14th day.
- In the feast appointments of you.
The feast appointments mentioned in Leviticus chapter 23.
- At the beginning ('head of') of the ceremonial 'New Moons' (ie,
the six annual 'no servile work' days (partial Sabbath rest days)
which are mentioned in Leviticus chapter 23.
[NB: 1) Unfortunately many do not realise 'New Moon' days were
the ceremonial New Moon days and not the actual days
which initiated each of the calendar months.
2) The Day of Atonement requires a full Sabbath rest
- so it is not a ceremonial 'New Moon' day. ]
Num 10:2 ... you shall use them for calling the congregation
and for directing the movement of the camps.
:3 When they blow both of them, all the congregation
shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle
of meeting.
:4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the
heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you.
:5 When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the
east side shall then begin their journey.
:6 When you sound the advance the second time, then camps
that lie on the south side shall begin their journey;
they shall sound the call for them to begin their
journeys.
:7 And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you
shall blow, but not sound the advance.
:8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the
trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance
forever throughout your generations.
:9 When you go to war in your land against the enemy
who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with
the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the
Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
:10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed
feasts, and at the beginning of your months (New Moons),
you shall blow the trumpets (H2689) over your burnt
offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace
offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before
your God: I am the Lord your God.
Numbers 10:10 lists three occasions;
1) The 14th Passover,
2) The appointed feasts (mentioned in Leviticus chapter 23),
3) The ceremonial 'New Moons'.
There initially appears to be significant overlap with these criteria.
For example the 14th Passover is listed in Leviticus chapter 23.
In addition, the ceremonial New Moon days are listed in Leviticus 23.
So why the duplication?
The explanation is that the Leviticus 'appointed feasts' is a reference
to the occasions held at the House of God, these began at sunset and
finished at midnight.
Hence, the aspect of these appointments which was being alluded to,
was the blowing of the trumpets over the evening burnt offerings.
So apart from these formal Temple feast gatherings the silver trumpets
were also to be blown in the morning upon these days;
- the 14th Passover, and
- the six ceremonial New Moon days
THE MORNING - SILVER TRUMPETS
Silver trumpets were blown twice early in the morning on the
following days.
- Passover (temple Passover) - 14th first month
- first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - 15th first month
- seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - 21st first month
- Feast of Weeks - varies third month
- Day of Trumpets - 1st seventh month
- first day of the Feast of Tabernacles - 15th seventh month
- Last Day - 22nd seventh month
Firstly over the morning burnt offerings and then again over
the subsequent morning peace offerings.
[NB: Burnt offerings were to be first burnt on the altar.
Then the Peace offerings, Lev 3:1-5. The fire of this
altar was not to go out, Lev 6:12-13.]
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Note: 1) There is no mention of the silver trumpets being blown on the
weekly Sabbath or on the Day of Atonement!
NB: These were times of commanded gathering, but they were
not evening feast appointments.
2) What was the situation for feast days which were not
ceremonial New Moon days?
These days being the 2nd to 6th (inclusive) days of the
Feast of Unleavened Bread and the 2nd to 7th (inclusive)
days of the Feast of Tabernacles.
A careful reading of the inference given by Num 10:10,
would indicate the silver trumpets would not have been
blown in the morning of these days.
However, they would still have been blown at the evening
Temple feast celebrations.
Confirming the silver trumpets were blown over the evening burnt
offerings.
2Chr 29:27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering
on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song
of the Lord also began, with the trumpets (H2689) and
with the instruments of David king of Israel.
The silver trumpets were to be blown by the sons of Aaron, ie the
priests.
Num 10:8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets
(H2689); and these shall be to you as an ordinance
forever throughout your generations.
1Chr 16:6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the
trumpets(H2689) before the ark of the covenant of God.
Trumpeters stood by the king.
2Kin 11:14 When she looked, there was the king standing
by a pillar according to custom; and the
leaders and the trumpeters (H2689) were by
the king. All the people of the land were
rejoicing and blowing trumpets (H2689).
So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out,
"Treason! Treason!"
The silver trumpets were also known as the 'signal trumpets'.
Num 31:6 Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each
tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son
of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the
signal trumpets (H2689) in his hand.
THE RAM'S HORN - THE SHOFAR 
1) A verse reference - Psalm 81:3.
Psalms 81:3 is a verse which specifically mentions the 'shofar',
ram's horn, trumpet.
Psa 81:3 Blow the trumpet (shofar) at the time
of the New Moon, At the full moon,
on our solemn feast day.
This verse also mentions the ram's horn being blown on a day,
a day which was also a 'New Moon', 'full moon' and 'feast day'.
Often this verse has been thought to refer to the feast day called
the Day of Trumpets. As the Day of Trumpets is the only feast day
which falls on the 1st day of a month. However, revising what
Scripture means by  , rendered 'of the New Moon', can provide
other options.
Verses establishing the Day of Trumpets are:
Lev 23:24 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh
month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a
sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing (H8643) of trumpets,
a holy convocation.
Num 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month,
you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no
customary work. For you it is a day of blowing (H8643)
the trumpets.
NB: 1) For both these verses the word 'trumpets' is
not present in the Hebrew text.
2) While it has been commonly taught that the
shofar was to be blown on the Day of Trumpets,
one should notice these verses do not actually
state this.
It is interesting to observe that the text which follows Psa 81:3
indicates an Exodus connection.
Psa 81:4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.
:5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,
When He went throughout the land of Egypt,
Where I heard a language I did not understand.
:6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden;
His hands were freed from the baskets.
Hence, inferring the 15th day of the first month, when the children
of Israel started their journey toward the border of Egypt.
(This day being later declared by Scripture to be a feast day,
and commanded rest day, representing the first day of the Feast
of Unleavened Bread. Refer Lev 23:6-7.)
Nevertheless, the common Psalm 81:3 translations do present a clash
between the terms 'New Moon' and a 'full moon'.
Is the common rendering of 'full moon' in Psalm 81:3 inaccurate?
A few translations render the verse without the reference to a
'full moon'.
Notice the following translations.
* KJV *
Psa 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the
time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
* Douay-Rheims *
Psa 81:3 Blow up the trumpet on the new moon, on the
noted day of your solemnity.
However, it must be acknowledged that the vast majority of
translations have chosen to indicate a reference to 'full moon'.
The Hebrew text shows a specific word,  .
This word which corresponds with Strong's reference H3677.
Strong's reference H3677 is apparently derived from H3680. H3680
has the meaning of 'to plump, ie fill up hollows". Applying a
figurative perspective it can mean 'cover' (e.g. clothing or for
purposes of secrecy).
So is it completely accurate to translate this as 'full moon'?
[ NB: A fuller understanding of Psalm 81:3 would also
help provide the proper understanding of another
verse.
As Prov 7:20 similarly discusses a 'cover' day,
(or 'appointed' day, or 'full moon' day), being
when a husband was expected to return home.
- Possibly being an allusion to a prophetic
return of Christ, - in Prov 7:20 to an
unfaithful wife. ]
2) Leviticus 25:9 - a pivotal verse
This verse also mentions the shofar trumpet.
Lev 25:9 Then you shall cause the trumpet (shofar) of the
Jubilee (H8643 - "blast") to sound on the tenth day
of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you
shall make the trumpet (shofar) to sound throughout
all your land.
The first point to notice is that the KJV and NKJV translations
of Lev 25:9 'trumpet of the Jubilee', while almost all other
translations allude to the 'sound' of the trumpet.
The second, more important, point is that it is making a direct
reference to 'the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of
Atonement'. This timing, by its very nature, tends to undermine
common Jewish teaching that the shofar was first blown on the
earlier Day of Trumpets (i.e. the first day of the seventh month).
The third point is that the Day of Atonement was not a feast day.
It was a day of fasting ('afflict your soul'), refer Lev 23:26-32.
Therefore it would not meet the 'feast day' requirement of Psalms
81:3 (discussed above).
The fourth point to notice is the actual Hebrew text of this verse.
While almost all common translations clearly state that the ram's
horn was blown on the Day of Atonement the text is less precise.
The key word is Strong's H5674. It is found twice in this verse.
Being initially presented in English as 'and you make pass' and
then later in the verse as 'you shall make pass'.
A translation which more accurately reflects the Hebrew is the
English Revised Version.
Lev 25:9 Then shalt thou send abroad the loud trumpet on the
tenth day of the seventh month; in the day of atonement
shall ye send abroad the trumpet throughout all your
land.
[ NB: 1) Unfortunately the wording 'send abroad',
can be somewhat misleading as this can
indicate the crossing of the national
boarder - which is not suggested in this
verse.
2) The Young's Literal Translation and the
Literal Standard Version, provide the
wording 'to pass over'. ]
It seems that all translators have understood 'to pass over' to be
a reference to the 'sounding' of the trumpet.
However, it seems that Lev 25:9 may actually be saying that shofars,
capable of making the appropriate 'blast', would be despatched
throughout the land of Israel on the Day of Atonement. Presumably
so the whole of the land of Israel would be able to sound the
'trumpet of blast' on a subsequent appointed day.
The next appointed day being a few days later, i.e. the 15th of
the seventh month, the commanded annual rest and gathering day
of the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles.
As the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles were also representative of
the days of the Exodus it would be fitting when discussing the 15th
of the seventh to be referring to the Exodus journey.
Hence, the Exodus references following the Psa 81:3 verse would be
appropriate.
Therefore, it seems, that the true day for the first sounding of the
ram's horn may have been the 15th of the seventh month!
Was this the most important day of the sounding of the shofar?
Was this the day when the shofar was 'sounded long'?
Was this the day associated with the start of the Jubilee year?
3) The Year of Jubilee.
Lev 25:10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and
proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all
its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee (H3104)
for you; and each of you shall return to his
possession, and each of you shall return to
his family.
Verse 10 states 'consecrate the fiftieth year'. This indicates that
they are 'setting apart' this year as special.
Translators have frequently rendered Strong's reference H3104 as
'Jubilee'. This is largely due to the context in which the word is
usually found.
In any case, the following verses, Lev 25:11-12 clearly imply
the existence of an 'agricultural year'.
Exod 25:11 That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you;
in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows
of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of
your untended vine.
:12 For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you;
you shall eat its produce from the field.
[NB: In the Jubilee year one could still
eat directly from the fields. ]
A normal 'agricultural year' (non land Sabbath / non Jubilee)
would incorporate:
1) the sowing of the grain followed by the
later harvesting of the grain, and
2) the pruning of the grape vines followed by
the later gathering of the grapes.
The existence of such an 'agricultural year' is also implied by
the following verses.
Exod 23:16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your
labors which you have sown in the field; and the
Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when
you have gathered in the fruit of your labors
from the field.
Exod 34:22 "And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks,
of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the
Feast of Ingathering at the year's end."
[ NB: The Feast of Ingathering is another
name for the Feast of Tabernacles.
The festival held in the seventh
month. ]
These verses place the 7th month feast at the end of such a year.
TIMES THE 'SHOFAR' WAS HEARD
As the directions governing the use of the shofar are not clear we need
to review the available biblical examples.
A) At Mt Sinai.
Following the exodus from Egypt we have the lead-up to the announcing
of the Ten Commandments. Refer Exodus chapter 19.
Prior to this event occurring we have;
1) the arrival at the Wilderness of Sinai - verse 1,
2) Moses going up the mountain to talk to God - verse 3,
3) Moses calling for the elders and presenting
the agreement before them - verse 7,
4) Moses advising God the elders have
agreed - latter portion of verse 8.
By the time these events have transpired we have likely reached
the seventh month. (The month in which the final four God appointed
days of rest and gathering occur; Day of Trumpets, Day of Atonement,
first day of Tabernacles and the Last Day.)
It is in this setting that God states.
Exod 19:10 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people
and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let
them wash their clothes.
:11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on
the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount
Sinai in the sight of all the people.
:15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the
third day; do not come near your wives."
:16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning,
that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a
thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the
trumpet (shofar) was very loud, so that all the people
who were in the camp trembled.
So, are these literal days as it seems is being suggested, or are
these counted appointed days?
The 'third day' is a day upon which the ram's horn was blown in such
a way that it generated a drawn out sound!
Exod 19:13 ... When the trumpet (H3104) sounds long, they shall
come near the mountain.
:19 And when the blast of the trumpet (shofar) sounded long
and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God
answered him by voice.
[NB: What is of some concern is the specification 'third day'.
Elsewhere in Scripture a 'third day' reference is usually
an allusion to one of the days of the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. A feast held in the first month, not the seventh
month. ]
B) At Jericho (plural usage).
Josh 6:4 "And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets (shofars)
of rams' horns (H3104) before the ark. But the seventh
day you shall march around the city seven times, and
the priests shall blow the trumpets (shofars).
:5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast
with the ram's horn (H3104), and when you hear the
sound of the trumpet (shofar), that all the people
shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the
city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up
every man straight before him."
:8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that
the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets (shofars)
of rams' horns (H3104) before the Lord advanced and
blew the trumpets (shofars), and the ark of the
covenant of the Lord followed them.
:9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the
trumpets (shofars), and the rear guard came after
the ark, while the priests continued blowing the
trumpets (shofars).
:10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You
shall not shout or make any noise with your voice,
nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until
the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout."
:11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city,
going around it once. Then they came into the
camp and lodged in the camp.
:12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the
priests took up the ark of the Lord.
:13 Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets (shofars)
of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on
continually and blew with the trumpets (shofars).
And the armed men went before them. But the rear
guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the
priests continued blowing the trumpets (shofars).
:14 And the second day they marched around the city
once and returned to the camp. So they did six
days.
:15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they
rose early, about the dawning of the day, and
marched around the city seven times in the same
manner. On that day only they marched around the
city seven times.
:16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests
blew the trumpets (shofars), that Joshua said to
the people: "Shout, for the Lord has given you the
city!"
NB: 1) This is an event occurring about 40 years
after the above Sinai event.
2) We have a duration of seven days. This
is likely a reference to the duration of
the Feast of Tabernacles.
3) Verse 13 has the rams' horns being blown
each of the seven days.
4) Verse 5 advises a 'long blast' sound and
the command of Joshua (verse 16) prompted
the shout of the people on the seventh day.
[NB: The expression 'long blast', which is
found in Josh 6:5, is a translation
of H4900 & H3104, meaning 'to draw
out the blast'. These Hebrew words
are also found in Exod 19:13 where
they are translated 'sounds long'.
(In Exod 19:19 the translation
'trumpet sounded long' is H6963
(sounded), H7782 (shofar) & H1980
(going).)]
We are advised in this historic example that the long blast was
timed to coincide with the 7th day - presumably the seventh day
of the Feast of Tabernacles.
C) When Ehud subdued Moab.
Judg 3:27 And it happened, when he (Ehud) arrived, that he blew
the trumpet (shofar) in the mountains of Ephraim, and
the children of Israel went down with him from the
mountains; and he led them.
This was after the leaderships of Joshua and Othniel. So rather early
in the period of the Judges.
At that time it seems many men of Israel were gathered together in
the mountains of Ephraim.
D) At the time of Gideon's (Jerubbaal's) triumph with 300 men.
Judg 6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; then he
blew the trumpet (shofar), and the Abiezrites gathered
behind him.
7:22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets (shofars),
the Lord set every man's sword against his companion
throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth
Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel
Meholah, by Tabbath.
This was after the judgeships of Ehud, Shamgar and Deborah.
E) Saul, in the second year.
After being anointed by Samuel (and after having been formally
crowned king), Saul organised an attack against the Philistines.
1Sam 13:3 And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines
that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it.
Then Saul blew the trumpet (shofar) throughout all
the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!
[NB: An obvious reference to the start of
a Jubilee year. Refer Lev 25:9 above.
Dating? - 400 years after Exodus. ]
F) After the death of Saul.
After the crowning of Saul's son Ishbosheth.
During conflict between the armies of David and Ishbosheth.
2Sam 2:27 And Joab said, "As God lives, unless you had spoken,
surely then by morning all the people would have
given up pursuing their brethren."
:28 So Joab blew a trumpet (shofar), and all the people
stood still, and pursued after Israel no more,
neither fought they any more.
As Saul's reign is defined as lasting 40 years (Acts 13:21),
and the reign of Ishbosheth spanned only 2 years (2Sam 2:10),
this event was about 40 years after the above Jubilee year.
G) When the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem.
2Sam 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the
ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of
the trumpet (shofar).
1Chr 15:28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant
of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the
horn (shofar), with trumpets (H2689) and with cymbals,
making music with stringed instruments and harps.
H) When Absalom rebelled against David.
2Sam 15:10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes
of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound
of the trumpet (shofar), then you shall say,
'Absalom reigns in Hebron!'"
Also at the time of Absalom's death.
2Sam 18:16 So Joab blew the trumpet (shofar),
and the people returned from pursuing
Israel. For Joab held back the people.
And the subsequent rebellion of Sheba.
2Sam 20:1 And there happened to be there a rebel,
whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri,
a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet,
(shofar) and said: "We have no share
in David, nor do we have inheritance
in the son of Jesse; every man to his
tents, O Israel!"
Then after the passing of a number
of days.
:22 Then the woman in her wisdom went to
all the people. And they cut off the
head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and
threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a
trumpet (shofar), and they withdrew
from the city, every man to his tent.
So Joab returned to the king at
Jerusalem.
I) At the first anointing and crowning of King Solomon.
At the time of the Adonijah rulership challenge.
1Kin 1:39 Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the
tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew
the horn (shofar), and all the people said,
"Long live King Solomon!"
This was some 77 years after the crowning of Saul.
In the fourth year following this, Solomon was crowned a second time.
The second crowning taking place 480 years after the Exodus. 1K 6:1.
J) Asa's covenant renewal at Jerusalem (month the third, year fifteen).
2Chr 15:14 Then they took an oath before the LORD with a
loud voice, with shouting and trumpets (H2689)
and rams' horns (shofars).
The reign of Asa followed the reigns of Solomon, Rehoboam and
Abijam.
K) Jehu declared King of Israel.
2Kin 9:13 Then they hurried, and each man took his garment
and put it under him on the bare steps, and blew
the trumpet (shofar), saying, "Jehu is king!"
(NASB)
The reign of Jehu starting about 100 years after the formation
of the 10 tribed House of Israel (The House of Israel having
been established at the start of the reign of Rehoboam).
L) Repair of the wall of Jerusalem.
Neh 4:18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at
his side as he built. And the one who sounded the
trumpet (shofar) was beside me.
:20 "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
(shofar) rally to us there. Our God will fight
for us."
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