Numbers 10:9

_AND IF YE GO TO WAR IN YOUR LAND AGAINST THE ENEMY THAT OPPRESSETH YOU, THEN YE SHALL BLOW AN ALARM WITH THE TRUMPETS; AND YE SHALL BE REMEMBERED BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YE SHALL BE SAVED FROM YOUR ENEMIES._ If ye go to war - in the land of Canaan, either, when attacked by foreign invaders or when they went to take possession, according to the divine promise, ye - i:e., the priests-shall blow an alarm. This advice was accordingly acted upon (Numbers 31:6; 2 Chronicles 13:12); and in the circumstances it was an act of devout confidence in God. A solemn and religious act on the eve of a battle has often animated the hearts of those who felt they were engaged in a good and just cause; and so the blowing of the trumpet, being an ordinance of God, and performed by his consecra

1-10 Here are directions concerning the public notices to be given the people by sound of trumpet. Their laws in every case were to be Divine, therefore, even in this matter Moses is directed. These trumpets typify the preached gospel. It sounds an alarm to sinners, calls them to repent, proclaims liberty to the captives and slaves of Satan, and collects the worshippers of God. It directs and encourages their heavenly journey; stirs them up to combat against the world and sin, encouraging them with the assurance of victory. It leads their attention to the sacrifice of Christ, and shows the Lord's presence for their protection. It is also necessary that the gospel trumpet give a distinct sound, according to the persons addressed, or the end proposed; whether to convince, humble, console, exhort, reprove, or teach. The sounding of the trumpet of the gospel is God's ordinance, and demands t...

Verse Numbers 10:9. _IF YE GO TO WAR_] These trumpets shall be sounded for the purpose of collecting the people together, to deliberate about the war, and to implore the protection of God against their enemies. _YE SHALL BE REMEMBERED BEFORE THE LORD_] When _ye decamp, encamp_, _make war_, and hold _religious festivals_, according to his appointment, which appointment shall be signified to you by the priests, who at the command of God, for such purposes, shall blow the trumpets, then ye may expect both the presence and blessing of Jehovah in all that ye undertake....

For examples of the employment of trumpets in war compare marginal references and 2 Chronicles 20:28. By employment of them was signified the dependence of God’s people on His aid....

EXPOSITION THE SILVER TRUMPETS (Numbers 10:1). NUMBERS 10:1 AND THE LORD SPAKE. The command to make the silver trumpets is introduced here, because one principal use of them was connected with the order of march. It does not necessarily, follow that the command was actually given exactly at this time, or that all the different directions for use formed part of one communication. They may have been gathered together for convenience sake. See the Introduction on this subject. It is, however, a mistake to suppose that this use of trumpets has been anticipated in Le Numbers 25:9, or elsewhere, for the "trumpets" there m

AND WHEN YE GO TO WAR IN YOUR LAND AGAINST THE ENEMY THAT OPPRESSETH YOU,.... That enters in to invade it, to besiege cities, and distress the inhabitants of it: THEN YE SHALL BLOW AN ALARM WITH THE TRUMPETS: a "tara-tan-tara" with both of them, to call the several tribes together to join against the enemy; or to call them to fasting and humiliation, to repentance and prayer, to seek the Lord in the exercise of these, and cry for help and assistance, for victory and salvation; for, as Ben Gersom observes, by this alarm their hearts would be broken and become contrite, and they would return to the Lord, and he would have mercy on them when they pray unto him; for such a sound makes a man's heart shake and tremble, according to Amos 3:6; see Jeremiah 4:19; this is a third use of the trumpets, and i

8. THE TRUMPETS OF SILVER CHAPTER 10:1-10 _ 1. The silver trumpets (Numbers 10:1)_ 2. How they were to be used (Numbers 10:3) The silver trumpets were also given for guidance. They made known the mind of the Lord in an audible way. The cloud was seen. It stands for guidance by the eye. The silver trumpets were heard. When Israel was gathered together the trumpets were blown. “When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward; when ye blow an alarm the second time then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey.” They were used in time of war and the promise of victory and deliverance is connected with it. And in the days of gladness, in solemn days, in the beginning of the months, at the burnt offerings and peace offerings thes

THE SILVER TRUMPETS. These were straight in shape and about Leviticus 18 or Leviticus 20 in. long (Ezra 3:10 *). The various signals given by them were distinguished partly by the number of the blasts, partly by their character, some being alarms (martial notes, Numbers 10:9), others not. Instances of their use occur in Numbers 31:6; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 2 Chronicles 13:12 f.,...

GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4....

IF YE GO TO WAR IN YOUR LAND— Bishop Patrick observes, that as these trumpets were to be used in summoning the armies of Israel to go forth to battle; so, previously to that, in calling the people together to implore a blessing upon their arms; as the latter part of the verse intimates, and as it is explained by Maimonides and other ancient interpreters: which exposition is confirmed by the prophet Joel, ch. Numbers 2:1; Numbers 2:15 where, at the same time that the alarm of war is ordered to be sounded, a fast is ordered to be proclaimed by blowing the trumpet. _AND YE SHALL BE REMEMBERED BEFORE THE LORD_— Continues the sacred historian: the sounding of the trumpets being a kind of call upon God to assist them, and a sign to the people to implore and rely upon the divine aid:—that they may b