Blowing of trumpets teruw`ah (ter-oo-aw’); from clamor, i.e. acclamation of joy, a shout (Is 44:23) or a battle-cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarm. The ancient Hebrew word for blasting/blast in the above verses is “TaRUOE” (said as “ta-roo-oh-eh”). This word has five letters. The five letters are T-R-U-O-E
T = tau (modern tav) = two crossed sticks. This represents a sign. R = raash (modern resh) = man’s head. This represents first U= uu (modern vav) = tent peg. This represents secure O = oin (modern ayin) = eye. This represents watch E = ea (modern heh) = man with arms raised. This represents look.
So we “Sign (that is) first (for) securing, watching and looking.” In other words an initial indication or alarm that was given to groups of people to secure, watch over and look-out for their family and property, in the case of an emergency, war, or a set-apart time of rejoicing The very meaning of the Feast is embedded in is spelling.
This word can describe the noise made by a 1) trumpet but it also describes the 2) noise made by a large gathering of people shouting in unison (Nu 10:5–6). For example,
“And it shall come to pass when the ram’s horn makes a long blast, when you hear the sound of the shofar, the entire nation will shout a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall in its place, and the people shall go up as one man against it.” (Joshua 6:5)
In this verse the word “shout” appears twice, once as the verb form of Teruah and a second time as the noun form of Teruah. Although this verse mentions the sound of the shofar (ram’s horn), the two instances of Teruah both refer to the shouting in unison of the Israelites which was followed by the fall of the walls of Jericho.
While the Torah does not explicitly tell us the purpose of Yom Teruah its name may indicate that it is intended as a day of public prayer. The verb form of Teruah often refers to the noise made by a gathering of the faithful calling out to the Almighty in unison. For example:
- “Clap hands, all nations, shout to God, with a singing voice!” (Ps 47:1)
- “Shout to God, all the earth!” (Ps 66:1)
- “Sing to God, our strength, shout to the God of Jacob!” (Ps 81:3)
- “Shout to YHVH, all the earth!” (Ps 100:1)
From the horn of a ram the Israelites made a “Shofar” and it makes an alarming sound when blown. This Shofar played a highly significant role in Hebraic culture.
The very first time Scripure records the blowing of the Shofar occurring was to herald Gods giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:16,19 and 20:18).
The Shofar was blown to usher in Feast of Trumpets. This was a call to Sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing trumpets, and marked the beginning of a ten-day period of self-examination and repentance culminating with the Day of Atonement (Num. 29:1).
The Shofar was blown to herald the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to announce the Year of Jubilee. Every fifty years slaves were freed, debts were forgiven and land returned to the original owner Lev. 25:9-10 [verse 10 says, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants” and that is inscribed on the Liberty Bell.
Shofars were blown continually by seven priests before the Ark of the Covenant, as part of the battle plan to take the city of Jericho as the Israelites were entering the Promised Land (Josh. 6:4-20).
- The Shofar was blown when a king was anointed (1 Kgs. 1:34, 39, 41; 2 Kgs. 9:13).
- The Shofar was blown when the Israelites swore an oath of allegiance to YHVH (2 Chron. 15:14).
- The Shofar was blown to rally the troops (Neh. 4:18, 20).
- The Shofar was blown to call people to repentance or fasting (Isa. 58:1; Hos. 8:1; Joel 2:1)
- The Shofar was blown to sound the alarm of war (Jer. 4:19, 21; 6:1; 17; 51:27; Joel 2:1, 15).
- The Shofar was blown to sound the warning of danger (Amos 2:2; 3:6; Zeph. 1:16; Hos. 5:8, 8:1; Ezek. 33:2-9; Isa. 58:1). The sound of the Shofar is compared to a prophet’s voice.
- The Shofar was blown by God himself (Zech. 9:14).
- The Shofar was blown by the angels (Matt. 24:31; Rev. 8:2, 3; 9:1, 13-14; 10:7; 11:15).
- The Shofar was blown to announce the coming of a Jewish bridegroom to fetch his betrothed — a picture of Yeshua returning for his Bride. All the righteous living and the righteous dead will receive glorified, resurrected bodies and will meet him in the air at the sound of the Shofar. (Compare Matt. 24:31; 25:6; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:16; Rev. 11:15-18).
So we are told to set apart a day of blowing of Trumpets (Shofar) for a memorial or a day of remembering. Based on the use of trumpets in scripture we associate the blowing of Trumpets with the following…or idioms for this day. The events connected to the Feast of Trumpets are listed below:
- The Time of Jacobs trouble
- The Day of the Awakening Blast
- The Day of Great Rejoicing
- Yom HaDin/Day of Judgment/The Opening of the Books/Opening of the Gates
- Yom HaKeseh (The Hidden Day)
- Ha Kiddushin/Nesuin (Wedding of the Messiah)
- Ha Melech (Coronation of the Messiah)
- A Day of Remembrance
Num 29:1-2 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savor unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
The first mention of horns Gen 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. We also know it falls on the 1st of the 7th month (Called Tishri) which means it is new moon –or a dark moon. The feast of Tabernacles and Passover is a full moon on the 15th of the 7th month of Tishri.
The Coming of the Messiah is during the Day of the Lord. This time of trouble is called the Great Tribulation or Jacobs Trouble. It is the next event on the prophetic calendar of God.