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“Musical Instruments in the Bible” Part 3 – Wind – [Hatsotserah=Trumpet]

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“Musical Instruments in the Bible” Part 3 – Wind – [Hatsotserah=Trumpet]

[Study Aired September 28, 2023]

In this week’s study we will look at another wind instrument called the Hatsotserah, which is a trumpet. Below is the Strong’s number for this word and the verses that you will find it in.

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This type of trumpet was used to signal the Israelites, when they wandered the wilderness for forty years, to assemble and break camp (Num 10:5). It was an important part of temple worship (1Ch 15:28, 2Ch 15:14) and considered one of the sacred utensils (2Ki 12:13, Num 31:6). The hatsotserah was blown on New Moons and other festive occasions as well as at the temple’s daily offerings (2Ki 11:14, Hos 5:8, Psa 98:6).

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I’ll start our study off with the first time that the word Hatsotserah is used in the bible which is found in Numbers 10:2-10, and look at the surrounding verses that will bring out the spiritual meaning of what the Hatsotserah trumpet signifies for the body of Christ today.

Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpetsH2689 of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:3  And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 
Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 
Num 10:7  But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
Num 10:8  And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. 
Num 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. 
Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

These last words in Numbers 10:10 (“I am the LORD your God”) are what these previous verses are all pointing to as we learn that Christ is ‘the LORD your God.’ Christ is the true witness in our lives, the two silver trumpets [witness] that become such in the lives of God’s elect as a result of their being able to hear the voice of the true Shepherd and be led by the spirit of God (Rom 8:14). When we clearly hear the sound of the trumpet of Christ’s voice (1Co 14:8, Joh 10:27), we are hearing the message of being judged in this age (1Pe 4:17). That judgment produces direction in our lives that glorifies God and gives us victory over our enemies in the land which represents our bodies (Num 10:3-10). In Numbers 10:8 we learn that it is Aaron’s sons, representing the elect, who blow the trumpets telling the congregation to “assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Num 10:3). Being ‘assembled at the door’ is typical of coming before Christ as our high priest Who is the door (Joh 10:9, Rev 3:20).

Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

1Co 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me [Joh 6:44].

When we are blessed to hear the voice of the true Shepherd and not despise His leading us to repentance (Rom 2:4), then we see that we are connected to the whole body, “a whole piece shalt thou make them” (Num 10:2), and our repentance (“make thee two trumpets of silver“) to which God leads us makes us zealous for the congregation (2Co 7:11, Rom 10:10) to provoke each other to love and good works, which is what these words signify “that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.”

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [silver trumpets are blown].

This ‘journeying of the camps’ of those who are hearing the trumpets blown by Aaron’s sons is all symbolic language representing how God’s elect are to be led by the spirit of God today (Rom 8:14-16) in order to overcome in this age. When we mortify the deeds of the flesh and bring our bodies into subjection to Christ (Rom 12:1), we are fulfilling the typical example of those actions in this verse, “And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee” (1Jn 2:15-17). 

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The enemy that oppresses us in our land represents the powers and principalities that we fight against (Eph 6:12) that only Christ is far higher than and able to overcome (Eph 1:21-22). All Israel needed to do was “blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies”, telling us that all we need to do is confess our faults, represented by the blowing of the silver trumpets (Rom 10:10), then we will be remembered by the Lord “and ye shall be saved from your enemies” (Num 10:4, Num 10:9, Lev 26:40-42, Psa 32:5, Joh 8:36). 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [Joh 8:36]
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Lev 26:40  If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 
Lev 26:41  And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Lev 26:42  Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 

Psa 32:5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The heads of thousands [10x10x10=1000] (Num 10:4) represent the leadership roles God has ordained in the body of Christ in order to help bring the entire body of Christ, typified by the camp of Israel, into subjection to Him “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). This happens through a lifelong process of having our life judged (10X10X10=1000)

In Numbers 10:5 the movement of the camp is from the east part that shall go forward, and this is mentioned first as our spiritual journey or sojourn begins on the right foot when Christ the morning star is rising in our hearts and shining forth from the east to the west as He works in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Rev 22:16, Rev 2:28, Mat 24:27, Php 2:12-13). 

Then in Numbers 10:6 we read of the alarm being blown a second time to tell the camps in the south to take their journeys. Moving from the south is not possible without the first alarm being blown that tells the camp from the east to move forward. Israel moved in many directions as a congregation, but the point being shown here is for our edification. The Israel of God (Gal 6:16) moving forward and overcoming in this life is accomplished by our being judged by God who is going to destroy the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts so we take our direction from Christ and not operate in our flesh (2Th 2:8, Tit 2:12, Eph 2:8). When we are in subjection to our head, we are able to go where the Lord directs us. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

These two verses (Num 10:5-6) discuss the only way we can move forward spiritually in this life, represented by the south that only moves after that symbolic judgment begins as the eastern camp which moves forward after hearing the silver trumpet.

Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 
Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

When all the congregation is gathered together, a trumpet is blown, but no alarm is mentioned being blown in Numbers 10:7, telling us that although we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities, there must be times when we are not in the thick of the battle but given rest and prepared together as a congregation of saints to prepare for future battles. Every conference I’ve ever gone to has refreshed the body of Christ and been followed by some large to great trial or series of trials. Lord willing, this refreshing of the saints that is coming up in November in Mobile, AL will be more great preparation for ruling over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15). That time will come soon enough and God will not tarry (Heb 10:37-38) whether this is the season it occurs or not, and then the saints will begin to fulfill the role spoken of in Numbers 10:4.

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 

Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

Getting back to the instruments themselves, these beaten-out long and straight silver instruments which were blown to tell the camp of Israel that they needed to move, represent the elect who have been worked with by God’s grace and through the faith of Jesus Christ (Tit 2:12, Heb 12:38, Eph 2:8), and the message we blow is the same as John the Baptist; to make straight the ways of the Lord (Joh 1:23). The message is loud and clear and with the flared end of the trumpet the sound is further amplified, typifying how the gospel will be preached far and wide to all nations as a witness, then shall the end come. It is first clearly and properly heard, however, only in the hearts and minds of those whom God has ordained to have eyes that see and ears that hear in this generation (Mat 24:14, Mat 13:16).

Joh 1:23  He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpetsH2689 of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

In verse ten we see more of an example of how the silver trumpets, the Hatsotserah, are incorporated in our walk with the Lord:

Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

We see here that there are also festive occasions connected with the trumpet, where we are brought into remembrance of God’s great deliverance from the enemies within our lands, which we have seen represent the bondage sin brings. This liberty God gives us through Christ is “the day of your gladness” and spoken of as being “in your solemn days”H4150  reminding us that there is a season for all things, “a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecc 3:4). It is also “in the beginningsH7218 of your months” that the trumpet is blown, showing us that when we come into this relationship with our Father and Christ and one another it is a lifelong journey which has a beginning, middle and end through and unto which we pray we will all be able to endure (Mat 24:12-13). 

Ecc 3:4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

We “blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings”, actions that bring us into remembrance of how our Sovereign God and Father has given us the life of Christ through His spirit so we can be nourished by the burnt offerings and peace offerings which Christ and His Christ represent. That rich life of Christ within us, Who is our sufficiency (2Co 3:5), comes to us through a lifetime of overcoming and confessing our faults symbolized by the blowing of the silver trumpets over these offerings, both burnt and peace (Rom 10:10). 

Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [silver trumpets are blown].

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the next two wind instruments, the Kehren which is a Cornet and the Mashroqiy which is a flute. The following week I plan to look at the Shofar which is called a Cornet or Trumpet in modern language.

Hebrew: Kehren
KJV Name: Cornet
Strong’s: #H7162
References: Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15

This musical instrument, found only in the book of Daniel, was commonly used in the court of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar. According to Clarke’s Commentary, it was a horn that could make a deep and hollow sound as well as one that was piercing.

The cornet, along with other instruments, was used by Nebuchadnezzar at the dedication of a huge golden statue in his likeness. The statue was 60 cubits (at least 87.5 feet or 26.7 meters) tall by six cubits (8.75 feet or 2.67 meters) wide.

Babylon’s officials, as well as the people, were commanded to bow down and worship the image when they heard the instruments play (Daniel 3:3 – 5). All those refusing to do so would be put to death in a fiery furnace. Daniel’s three friends, who rejected this idolatry, were thrown into this fiery trial of their faith but were miraculously saved by God (Daniel 3).

Hebrew: Mashroqiy
KJV Name: Flute
Strong’s: #H4953
References: Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15

This instrument is found only in Daniel in the KJV. It, along with others, were used by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to signal when those he ruled over were to worship a huge golden statue made in his likeness. The mashroqiy may have been the Chaldean name for a flute with two reeds. Tyndale’s Dictionary and the ISBE believe it was similar to Pan’s pipe.

Hebrew: Shofar
KJV Name: Cornet / Trumpet
Strong’s: #H7782
References: Exodus 19:16, 19, 20:18, Leviticus 25:9, Joshua 6:4 – 20, Judges 3:27, etc.

The Hebrew word shofar is recorded 72 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, all of which are mistranslated in the KJV. It is erroneously called a trumpet 68 times and a cornet 4 times (Psalm 98:6, 1Chronicles 15:28, 2Chronicles 15:14, Hosea 5:8). The shofar and trumpet, according to the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, are two distinct instruments as delineated in Psalm 98:6 and 1Chronicles 15:28.

The shofar is mentioned more than any other musical instrument in the Bible. It is the only instrument that survives in its original form and is still used in modern Jewish liturgy. It was usually made from the curved horn of a ram or goat. Shofars announced the New Moons and Sabbaths (Psalm 81:3), warned of approaching danger, and signaled the death of nobility.

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