Purpose of the Trumpet Blowing/2

Purpose of the Trumpet Blowing

Exegetical Approaches

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Assembly

The trumpets served a purely practical function, signalling the nation to gather for various purposes.

Sources:perhaps R. Saadia Gaon, perhaps RashiRosh HaShanah 26bAbout R. Shelomo Yitzchaki

"וְהָיוּ לְךָ לְמִקְרָא הָעֵדָה וּלְמַסַּע אֶת הַמַּחֲנוֹת" – According to this approach this sentences serves as a heading for all of verses 2-10, and not just verses 2-7.  Each of the four cases mentioned (and not just the first two) is either an assembling to gather or to travel.¹

Trumpets in times of war – In times of war, the trumpets played a functional role, serving to announce the state of war so that the troops would gather and head to battle.

Trumpets and the sacrificial service –  It is possible that during the wilderness period the people would gather near the Mishkan (or, perhaps, stand still by their tents) at the hour when communal sacrifices were brought.  Even after arrival in Israel, when this was no longer practical, the custom of blowing was maintained to mark the ideal that everyone should really be a participant in such communal sacrifices.

"נִזְכַּרְתֶּם לִפְנֵי י״י אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶם" – The remembering of the nation is not a direct result of the trumpet blowing (which has no religious significance), but simply a statement of how Hashem will remember the nation whenever they go to battle.

וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם – According to this position, the subject of the phrase "וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן" is the sacrifices themselves, not the accompanying blowing of trumpets. It is the sacrificial servce which will be remembered by Hashem, not the technical signal to gather.

תרועות vs. תקיעות – The two sounds distinguished whether the people were being called to gather (either to speak to Moshe or for the sacrificial service) or to travel (either in the wilderness or to war). It is possible that the broken sound of the teruah reflects movement, and was therefore chosen as its signal, while the united blast of the tekiah better matches a gathering in one place.

Why priestly role? Given the purely functional nature of the trumpet blowing, it i snot clear why only priests were allowed to blow the instrument.

Honoring Hashem's Presence

The trumpets served to announce the presence of Hashem.  Just as trumpet calls herald the arrival of a human king, they honor and mark the appearance of Hashem, King of Kings, as well.

Sources:perhaps SefornoBemidbar 10:2-6About R. Ovadyah Seforno, R"E Samet²

Prayer

The blowing of trumpets functioned like prayer. As the nation went to war, the trumpets accompanied their cries for salvation, and when they returned home they accompanied their offerings of thanksgiving.

Sources:Ibn EzraBemidbar 10:2-10About R. Avraham ibn Ezra

Changing Purpose

The trumpets' role changed over time. While they served a purely practical purpose in the wilderness, in future generations they took on a ceremonial role

Sources:RalbagBemidbar 10:1-10Bemidbar Toalot 10:1-10About R. Levi b. Gershom, AbarbanelBemidbar 10:1About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel,

¹ This is obvious with regards to the first two cases which are explicitly about assembly or travel. The points below discuss how this approach reads the blowing of trumpets during times of war and holidays in a similar fashion.

²