8. The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)

Today the Feast of Trumpets is celebrated as Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New year. Biblically the name Rosh Hashanah does not appear in the Bible; the Hebrew means “Head of the Year”. Following the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 the Feast of Trumpets could no longer be literally celebrated. Rosh Hashanah took the place of this feast. Rosh Hashanah, today, combines elements of the Feast of Trumpets as the nation awaits the redemption of Messiah. The feast of Trumpets is listed as the fifth feast designated by the Lord for Israel to follow.

Leviticus 23:23-25

²³ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 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 of trumpets, a holy convocation. ²⁵ You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.

The trumpet plays a significant role in both Old and New Testaments. The Fall Feasts, in the seventh month, begin with the Feast of Trumpets. These are the final feasts God established with the nation of Israel in Leviticus Chapter 23. From the first four feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Weeks we see literal fulfillment in the work of Messiah. His first coming for The Fall Feasts, Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles also corresponds to the work of Messiah. These feasts correspond to the Second Coming of the Messiah as foretold in the scriptures.

Jesus reminded his followers in Luke that His suffering and rejection was foretold in the words of Moses and the prophets. Jesus fulfilled Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits in death, burial and resurrection. The feast of Weeks was fulfilled as the Holy Spirit of God fell upon the believers in the upper room.

Luke 24; 25-27, 44-45

²⁵ He said to them, How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself…⁴⁴He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

In the Feast of Trumpets we see God’s plan of Redemption completed in the Second coming of the Messiah.

THE MEANING OF ROSH HASHANAH/ FEAST OF TRUMPETS

The Biblical Hebrew name for this feast is Zikhron Teruah (Memorial of blowing [of trumpets], Lev. 23:24) or Yom Teruah (Day of Blowing [trumpets] Num. 29:1). The term Rosh Hashanah was not applied to this feast until the 2^nd Century A.D. with the Temple destroyed and the Jewish people scattered after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem observation of the day had to be changed.

THE TIME OF ROSH HASHANAH

The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) takes place on the first day of the month of Tishri, the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. This corresponds to mid-September to early October of our calendar. The Bible calls for a one day holiday, except today it is celebrated as a 2-day feast.

The reason for the two days is the result of trying to find the exact time the feast occurs. Since the feast occurs on the first day of the seventh month the new moon was the start of the month. Many times, because of clouds and weather, it was hard to spot a new moon. Once a “New Moon” was spotted distant Jewish communities would be notified via bonfires. Since it took time to notify and certify, Rosh Hashanah was celebrated for two days.

RECORD OF ROSH HASHANAH

The celebration of Trumpets is simple. Israel is told to memorialize the first day of the seventh month with the blowing of trumpets and sacrifice. Israel is to keep the day as a Sabbath day of rest. (Lev. 23:23-25; Num. 29:1)

Regarding the Temple service, Israel was to offer additional sacrifices for the seventh month. (Num. 29:2-6) A young bull, ram, and seven lambs were offered as a burnt offering; along with a kid goat as a sin offering. These sacrifices were in addition to the “New Moon” (Nu. 28:11-150 and “Daily” offerings (Num. 28:1-8) Israel was required to offer.

Only once is scripture is it recorded that the Feast of Trumpets was celebrated. After Israel returned from the Babylonian captivity the Temple altar was rebuilt. During this time, on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra read from the law; and the people celebrated the feasts of the seventh month. (Ezra 3:1-6, Neh. 7:73-8:13)

THE IMPORTANCE OF ROSH HASHANAH

The number plays a significant role in scripture. God created the heavens and the earth in six-days and rested on the seventh. God assigned the seventh day as a day of rest to His people. Even the years were broken down into seven-year periods with the celebration of Jubilee on the 50^th year; after seven periods of seven-years. (Ex. 20:8-10; Lev. 25:4)

· 7 days in the week

· 7^th day a day of rest

· 7-years in a sabbatical year

· 7^th month is set aside

TYPES OF TRUMPETS

Scripture lists two types of Trumpets Israel was to use. One trumpet was made from silver and fashioned into long trumpet with a flared tip at the end. (Num. 10:1-2) The priest would sound these trumpets over sacrifices as a memorial to the Lord. (Num. 10:10) These trumpets were also used to mark the beginning and end of the Sabbath. The other type of Trumpet was called the Shofar made from a ram’s horn. This trumpet was used historically for the celebration of the feast of Trumpets. The ram’s horn trumpet, the Shofar, was also designated as the trumpet for the year of Jubilee. (Lev. 25:9) According to Exodus, God blew the Shofar on the mountain.

Exodus 19:16-18

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, ¹⁹ and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

Jewish tradition believes the First trumpet sounded on Sinai, and the Second trumpet (Shofar) will sound when the Messiah comes.

Zechariah 9:14-16

¹⁴ Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south,¹⁵ and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. ¹⁶ The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

7 TRUMPETS ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN

JOSHUA & JERICHO

Joshua 6:6-25

⁶ Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD. ⁷ And he said to the people, Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD.

⁸ So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. ⁹ The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 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 of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. 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. 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 that Joshua said to the people: Shout, for the LORD has given you the city! ¹⁷ Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. ¹⁸ And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. ¹⁹ But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

²⁰ So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. ²¹ And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

²² But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her. ²³ And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. ²⁴ But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. ²⁵ And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

REVELATION SEVEN ANGELS

Revelation 8:1-6

¹ When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² And I saw the seven angels who stand before God and to them were given seven trumpets. ³ Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. ⁴ And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. ⁵ Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

⁶ So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.