Numbers 10:7
To convene the assembly, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones.
But when convening the assembly
This phrase indicates a specific purpose for the trumpet blasts, which is to gather the people together. The Hebrew word for "assembly" is "qahal," which refers to a congregation or gathering of people. Historically, the Israelites were a nomadic people during their wilderness journey, and the need for organization and communication was paramount. The assembly was not just a casual gathering but a divinely ordained congregation, emphasizing the importance of unity and order among God's people. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God calling His people together for worship, instruction, and community.

you are to sound long blasts
The instruction to "sound long blasts" uses the Hebrew word "taqa," which means to blow or blast. The long blasts were distinct from other signals, serving as a clear and unmistakable call to gather. This method of communication underscores the importance of clarity and distinction in God's instructions. In a spiritual sense, it reminds believers of the need to listen attentively to God's call and to respond promptly. The long blasts symbolize a call to attention and readiness, reflecting the urgency and importance of gathering in obedience to God's command.

not short ones
The contrast with "short ones" highlights the precision required in following God's instructions. The Hebrew word for "short" is "teruah," which often refers to a series of short, sharp blasts. These were used for different purposes, such as signaling movement or alarm. The distinction between long and short blasts illustrates the need for discernment and obedience in the life of faith. It serves as a reminder that God provides specific guidance for different situations, and His people must be attentive to His voice. This precision in communication reflects God's orderliness and the importance of following His commands accurately.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who received instructions from God on how to lead the people during their journey through the wilderness.

2. Aaron
Moses' brother and the high priest, who played a significant role in the religious and ceremonial life of the Israelites.

3. Israelites
The people of God, who were journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land, receiving guidance and commandments from God through Moses.

4. The Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the divine presence among the Israelites, central to their worship and community life.

5. Trumpets
Silver trumpets used for signaling the congregation, directing movements, and marking important events or assemblies.
Teaching Points
Order and Communication in Worship
The use of trumpets signifies the importance of clear communication and order in worship and community life. Just as the Israelites needed to understand when to gather, we too must seek clarity and order in our worship practices.

Obedience to Divine Instructions
The specific instructions for sounding the trumpets remind us of the importance of obedience to God's commands. We are called to follow God's guidance in our lives with precision and faithfulness.

Unity and Gathering of God's People
The assembly of the Israelites through the trumpet blasts symbolizes the unity and gathering of God's people. In our context, it encourages us to prioritize communal worship and fellowship.

Symbolism of Trumpets in Scripture
Trumpets often symbolize God's voice and presence. Reflect on how God communicates with us today and how we can be attentive to His voice in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the use of trumpets in Numbers 10:7 reflect the importance of communication in our spiritual communities today?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our worship and gatherings are orderly and aligned with God's instructions, as seen in the use of trumpets for convening the assembly?

3. How does the concept of obedience to God's specific instructions in Numbers 10:7 apply to our daily walk with Christ?

4. What are some modern "trumpets" or signals that God might use to gather and direct His people today?

5. How can we foster unity and a sense of community in our church or fellowship, drawing from the example of the Israelites' assembly through trumpet blasts?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 19
The use of trumpets at Mount Sinai when God gave the Ten Commandments, highlighting the importance of divine communication.

Leviticus 23
The Feast of Trumpets, which underscores the significance of trumpets in Israel's worship and calendar.

1 Corinthians 14
Paul's teaching on orderly worship, which parallels the orderly assembly of the Israelites through the use of trumpets.
Significance of the Silver TrumpetG. Wagner.Numbers 10:1-10
The Institution of the Silver TrumpetsC. H. Mackintosh.Numbers 10:1-10
The Law of the Silver TrumpetsJ. Bayley, Ph. D.Numbers 10:1-10
The Silver TrumpetsDean Law.Numbers 10:1-10
The Silver TrumpetsW. Jones.Numbers 10:1-10
The Silver TrumpetsHenry, MatthewNumbers 10:1-10
The Silver TrumpetsW. Binnie Numbers 10:1-10
The Trumpet GospelBuffalo Christian Advertiser.Numbers 10:1-10
The Trumpets of ProvidenceJ. Parker, D. D.Numbers 10:1-10
The Use of the TrumpetsD. Young Numbers 10:1-10
People
Aaron, Abidan, Ahiezer, Ahira, Ammihud, Amminadab, Ammishaddai, Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Deuel, Eliab, Eliasaph, Elishama, Elizur, Enan, Gad, Gamaliel, Gershon, Gershonites, Gideoni, Helon, Hobab, Issachar, Kohathites, Manasseh, Merari, Merarites, Moses, Nahshon, Naphtali, Nethaneel, Ocran, Pagiel, Pedahzur, Raguel, Reuben, Reuel, Shedeur, Shelumiel, Simeon, Zebulun, Zuar, Zurishaddai
Places
Paran, Sinai
Topics
Alarm, Assembling, Assembly, Blow, Congregation, Convened, Convening, Gathered, Horn, However, Loudly, Shout, Signal, Sounded, Sounding, Trumpets
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 10:1-7

     5213   assembly

Library
November 17. "The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord Went Before Them" (Num. x. 33).
"The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them" (Num. x. 33). God does give us impressions but not that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression be from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt. How beautifully we read, in the story of Jeremiah, of the impression that came to him respecting the purchase of the field of Anathoth, but Jeremiah did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his uncle's
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Hobab
'And Moses said unto Hobab ... Come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.'--NUM. x. 29. There is some doubt with regard to the identity of this Hobab. Probably he was a man of about the same age as Moses, his brother- in-law, and a son of Jethro, a wily Kenite, a Bedouin Arab. Moses begs him to join himself to his motley company, and to be to him in the wilderness 'instead of eyes.' What did Moses want a man for, when he had the cloud? What do we
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Hallowing of Work and of Rest
'And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee. 36. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.'--Num. x. 35, 36. The picture suggested by this text is a very striking and vivid one. We see the bustle of the morning's breaking up of the encampment of Israel. The pillar of cloud, which had lain diffused and motionless over the Tabernacle, gathers itself
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Letter Lv. Replies to Questions of Januarius.
Or Book II. of Replies to Questions of Januarius. (a.d. 400.) Chap. I. 1. Having read the letter in which you have put me in mind of my obligation to give answers to the remainder of those questions which you submitted to me a long time ago, I cannot bear to defer any longer the gratification of that desire for instruction which it gives me so much pleasure and comfort to see in you; and although encompassed by an accumulation of engagements, I have given the first place to the work of supplying
St. Augustine—The Confessions and Letters of St

How the Humble and the Haughty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 18.) Differently to be admonished are the humble and the haughty. To the former it is to be insinuated how true is that excellence which they hold in hoping for it; to the latter it is to be intimated how that temporal glory is as nothing which even when embracing it they hold not. Let the humble hear how eternal are the things that they long for, how transitory the things which they despise; let the haughty hear how transitory are the things they court, how eternal the things they
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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