The Trumpet
Trumpets signal God's presence, war, worship, and deliverance.
The trumpet in scripture is a divinely ordained instrument used for communication, assembly, and divine intervention. It is first associated with the theophany at Mount Sinai, where its sound signaled God's presence and the people's approach (Exodus 19:13, Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:19). The trumpet also served as a memorial before God in worship, war, and festivals, blown by the priests as a perpetual ordinance (Numbers 10:8, Numbers 10:9, Numbers 10:10).
- First mention
- Exodus 19:13
- Blown by
- Sons of Aaron, the priests (Numbers 10:8)
- Material
- Rams' horns (Joshua 6:4, Joshua 6:5, Joshua 6:8, Joshua 6:13)
- Occasions
- War, gladness, solemn days, beginnings of months, jubilee (Numbers 10:9, Numbers 10:10, Leviticus 25:9, Numbers 29:1)
- Effect at Jericho
- Wall fell down flat when people shouted after trumpet blast (Joshua 6:20)
Lore & Background
The trumpet first appears at Sinai, where its long blast allowed the people to approach the mount after God's presence was manifested in thunder and lightning (Exodus 19:13, Exodus 19:16). The sound grew louder as Moses spoke and God answered (Exodus 19:19). Later, God commanded the priests to blow trumpets for various purposes: to gather the congregation, to sound an alarm in war for remembrance and salvation (Numbers 10:9), and to accompany offerings and festivals as a memorial (Numbers 10:10). The seventh month featured a holy convocation specifically called 'a day of blowing the trumpets' (Numbers 29:1).
Reader's Guide
The passages portray the trumpet as a sacred instrument with multiple functions. At Sinai, it mediated divine-human interaction: the trumpet's long sound signaled when the people could ascend the mount (Exodus 19:13), and its increasing volume accompanied God's voice (Exodus 19:19). In the wilderness, the priests were given exclusive authority to blow the trumpets as a perpetual ordinance (Numbers 10:8). The trumpet served both practical and spiritual roles: in war, it prompted God to remember and save His people (Numbers 10:9); in worship, it accompanied burnt and peace offerings as a memorial (Numbers 10:10). The most dramatic use is at Jericho, where seven priests with seven trumpets of rams' horns marched around the city, and after a long blast and a great shout, the walls fell (Joshua 6:4-5, Joshua 6:20). Gideon also used trumpets in battle, coordinating a surprise attack with the cry 'The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon' (Judges 7:18). The trumpet thus consistently marks moments of divine intervention, whether in law-giving, warfare, or worship.
Did You Know?
- The trumpet at Sinai was so loud that all the people in the camp trembled (Exodus 19:16).
- Trumpets were blown over burnt offerings and peace offerings as a memorial before God (Numbers 10:10).
- At Jericho, seven priests carried seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark (Joshua 6:4, Joshua 6:8).
- The first day of the seventh month was designated a day of blowing trumpets (Numbers 29:1).