Trumpet in the Siege of Jericho
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The trumpet holds significant importance in the biblical account of the Siege of Jericho, as recorded in the Book of Joshua. This event is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, marking the beginning of their conquest of the Promised Land. The trumpet, specifically the ram's horn or "shofar," is central to the miraculous victory that God grants to the Israelites.

Biblical Account

The narrative of the Siege of Jericho is found in Joshua 6. God instructs Joshua on the strategy to conquer the fortified city of Jericho. The Israelites are to march around the city once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets of rams' horns before the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they are to march around the city seven times, and the priests are to blow the trumpets. Joshua 6:4 states, "Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets."

The climax of the event occurs when the priests sound the trumpets, and the people shout. Joshua 6:20 describes the moment: "So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. And when they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it."

Symbolism and Significance

The trumpet in the Siege of Jericho is not merely a musical instrument but a divine tool used to demonstrate God's power and faithfulness. The use of the trumpet signifies several key themes:

1. Divine Intervention: The fall of Jericho's walls is attributed to God's direct intervention. The trumpet blast, followed by the people's shout, symbolizes the obedience of Israel to God's command and His miraculous deliverance.

2. Faith and Obedience: The Israelites' faith in God's promise and their obedience to His unusual military strategy are crucial. The trumpet serves as a reminder of the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when it defies human logic.

3. Judgment and Victory: The trumpet is often associated with the announcement of significant events, including judgment and victory. In the context of Jericho, it heralds the impending judgment on the city and the victory granted to Israel.

4. Covenantal Presence: The presence of the Ark of the Covenant, accompanied by the trumpets, underscores the idea that God is with His people. The Ark represents God's covenant with Israel, and the trumpets announce His active presence in fulfilling His promises.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, the trumpet, particularly the shofar, was used for various purposes, including religious ceremonies, signaling in battle, and marking important events. Its use in the Siege of Jericho aligns with these functions, serving as a call to action and a declaration of God's sovereignty.

The account of Jericho and the role of the trumpet have been subjects of theological reflection and artistic representation throughout history. They continue to inspire believers with the message of faith, obedience, and the assurance of God's power to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Nave's Topical Index
Joshua 6:4-20
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Siege of Jericho
... THE BOOK OF JOSHUA THE SIEGE OF JERICHO. ... is right when it says, 'By faith the walls
of Jericho fell down ... The blast of the trumpet was, in the Jewish feasts, the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the siege of jericho.htm

How Jericho was Captured.
... So God commanded Joshua to lay siege to Jericho in a very strange way. He said that
seven priests, each having a trumpet, were to go before the ark. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/how jericho was captured.htm

That Vespasian, after He had Taken Gadara Made Preparation for the ...
... round about Jerusalem, and erected citadels at Jericho and Adida ... to spend a long
time in that siege, those that ... gave a signal beforehand, with a trumpet [19] at ...
/.../chapter 9 that vespasian after.htm

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... of an effective attack or of a protracted siege. ... At first the inhabitants of Jericho,
accustomed to Arab ... at the preconcerted signal, a trumpet blast, the ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

The Captain of the Lord's Host
... city, and had no experience nor engines for a siege. ... had to parade for six weary
days round Jericho blowing their ... day will come, and at the trumpet blast down ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the captain of the lords.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... not far from its mouth, and laid siege to Jericho. ... Moabites scattered over the plain
of Jericho, and blocked ... people at the call of the trumpet, Jerubbaal chose ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... Too ignorant of the arts of war to undertake a siege in the regular way, they ... and
gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Resources
What is the meaning of wormwood in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Feast of Trumpets? | GotQuestions.org

What are the seven seals of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Trumpet: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Trumpet

Trumpet by Gideon's Soldiers

Trumpet in the Siege of Jericho

Trumpet in War, of Abijah

Trumpet in Worship

Trumpet used at Mount Sinai

Trumpet used for Assembling the People to War

Trumpet used for Blowing at all Religious Processions and Ceremonies

Trumpet used for Blowing Over the Sacrifices on the Feast Day

Trumpet used for Calling Assemblies

Trumpet used for Giving Alarm in Cases of Danger

Trumpet used for Proclaiming Kings

Trumpet used for Regulating the Journeys of the Children of Israel

Trumpet used for Sounding for a Memorial when the People Went Into Battle

Trumpet used in War

Trumpet: An Instrument of Music

Trumpet: At Jehoshaphat's Triumph

Trumpet: At the Anointing of Kings

Trumpet: At the Bringing up of the Ark of the Covenant from the Household of Obed-Edom

Trumpet: At the Dedication of Solomon's Temple

Trumpet: At the Dedication of the Wall

Trumpet: At the Foundation of the Second Temple

Trumpet: At the Jubilee

Trumpet: Called the Trump

Trumpet: Figurative

Trumpet: Made of Ram's Horn

Trumpet: Made of Rams' Horns

Trumpet: Made of Silver

Trumpet: Miracles Connected With: Confusion Produced in the Camp of the Midianites by Sound

Trumpet: Miracles Connected With: Falling of the Walls of Jericho

Trumpet: Miracles Connected With: Heard at Mount Sinai at Giving of the Law

Trumpet: Moses Commanded to Make Two, for the Tabernacle

Trumpet: On the Great Day of Atonement

Trumpet: Required to Give an Intelligible and Understood Sound

Trumpet: Solomon Made a Great Many, for the Service of the Temple

Trumpet: Sounded in Time of Danger

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of God's Power to Raise the Dead

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of The Bold and Faithful Preaching of Ministers

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of The Latter Day Judgments

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of The Proclamation of the Gospel

Trumpet: Symbolical

Trumpet: The Feast of Trumpets Celebrated by Blowing of

Trumpet: The Jubilee Introduced by Blowing of

Trumpet: The Priests to Blow the Sacred

Trumpet: The War-Horse Acquainted With the Sound of

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Absalom

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Ehud

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Gideon

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Joab

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Nehemiah

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Phinehas

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Saul

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Sheba

Trumpet: Uses of, Prescribed by Moses

Related Terms

Trumpet (74 Occurrences)

Trumpet-blast (2 Occurrences)

Trumpet's (1 Occurrence)

Trump (2 Occurrences)

Blew (37 Occurrences)

Blown (30 Occurrences)

Bloweth (10 Occurrences)

Ram's (7 Occurrences)

Blast (28 Occurrences)

Almsgiving (3 Occurrences)

Cornet (8 Occurrences)

Alms (13 Occurrences)

Alarm (26 Occurrences)

Year (4027 Occurrences)

Trumpeter (1 Occurrence)

Sounds (64 Occurrences)

Ensign (21 Occurrences)

Blowing (31 Occurrences)

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)

Thunder (48 Occurrences)

Sounded (66 Occurrences)

Shouting (83 Occurrences)

Loud (222 Occurrences)

Shouted (65 Occurrences)

Shout (114 Occurrences)

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)

Blow (124 Occurrences)

Nethaneel (14 Occurrences)

Lightnings (17 Occurrences)

Imperishable (11 Occurrences)

Incapable (5 Occurrences)

Instant (19 Occurrences)

Incorruptible (8 Occurrences)

Trembled (43 Occurrences)

Twinkling (1 Occurrence)

Resembled (18 Occurrences)

Decay (18 Occurrences)

Proclamation (31 Occurrences)

Beth-haccerem (2 Occurrences)

Bichri (8 Occurrences)

Bethhaccerem (2 Occurrences)

Amos (12 Occurrences)

Ablaze (19 Occurrences)

Atonements (6 Occurrences)

Soundeth (6 Occurrences)

Signal (18 Occurrences)

Dispersed (28 Occurrences)

Warfare (18 Occurrences)

Changed (177 Occurrences)

Warning (30 Occurrences)

Lightning (49 Occurrences)

Sounding (99 Occurrences)

Moment (71 Occurrences)

Uproar (33 Occurrences)

Assemble (77 Occurrences)

Messengers (182 Occurrences)

Tekoa (12 Occurrences)

Warn (35 Occurrences)

Flat (33 Occurrences)

Banner (20 Occurrences)

Winds (35 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Trunk (3 Occurrences)

Noise (126 Occurrences)

Tenth (89 Occurrences)

Over-against (156 Occurrences)

Jo'ab (120 Occurrences)

Month (197 Occurrences)

Further (121 Occurrences)

Tremble (92 Occurrences)

Standard (42 Occurrences)

Gideon (45 Occurrences)

Horn (108 Occurrences)

Afar (98 Occurrences)

War (529 Occurrences)

Ahead (98 Occurrences)

Warned (63 Occurrences)

Seventh (123 Occurrences)

Abroad (120 Occurrences)

Trumpet Call for Defense
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