Trumpet: An Instrument of Music
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Topical Encyclopedia
The trumpet is a significant musical instrument mentioned throughout the Bible, serving various roles in religious, military, and ceremonial contexts. In the ancient Near East, the trumpet was primarily made of metal, often silver or bronze, and was used to produce a loud, clear sound that could be heard over long distances.

Biblical References and Uses

1. Religious Ceremonies and Worship: The trumpet played a crucial role in the worship practices of ancient Israel. In Numbers 10:2, God commands Moses to make two silver trumpets for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. These trumpets were used to call the community together and to signal the start of festivals and sacrifices. In 2 Chronicles 5:12-13, during the dedication of Solomon's Temple, the trumpeters and musicians joined together to praise the Lord, highlighting the instrument's role in worship: "The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice."

2. Military Significance: The trumpet was also used as a military instrument to signal movements and commands during battle. In Judges 7:16-22, Gideon uses trumpets to confuse and defeat the Midianites, demonstrating the instrument's strategic importance. The sound of the trumpet was a rallying cry for the Israelites, as seen in Joshua 6:4-20, where the walls of Jericho fell after the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted.

3. Prophetic Symbolism: The trumpet is often associated with prophetic events and divine intervention. In the Book of Revelation, trumpets are used to announce significant eschatological events. Revelation 8:6-7 describes the seven angels with seven trumpets, each heralding a different judgment upon the earth. The trumpet's sound is a call to attention, signaling the unfolding of God's plan.

4. Symbol of God's Voice and Presence: The trumpet is sometimes used metaphorically to represent the voice of God. In Exodus 19:16, when God descends upon Mount Sinai, the sound of a trumpet grows louder and louder, signifying His powerful presence. Similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the "trumpet of God" is mentioned in the context of the Lord's return, emphasizing the instrument's association with divine revelation and authority.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, the trumpet was not merely a musical instrument but a tool of communication and a symbol of divine authority. Its use in religious and military contexts underscores its importance in the life of the Israelite community. The trumpet's ability to produce a loud, penetrating sound made it ideal for conveying messages over long distances, whether in the context of worship, warfare, or divine proclamation.

Theological Significance

Theologically, the trumpet represents the call to worship, the announcement of God's presence, and the heralding of significant events in salvation history. Its recurring presence in both the Old and New Testaments highlights its enduring significance as a symbol of God's communication with His people. The trumpet's role in eschatological passages, particularly in the Book of Revelation, underscores its association with the fulfillment of God's ultimate plan for creation.

In summary, the trumpet is a multifaceted instrument in the biblical narrative, serving as a tool for communication, a symbol of divine presence, and a herald of God's redemptive work throughout history.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Chronicles 13:8
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with tambourines, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts.
... of mind, by the licentious and mischievous art of music. ... The one instrument of peace,
the Word alone by ... employ the ancient psaltery, and trumpet, and timbrel ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv how to conduct ourselves.htm

That the Inventors of Other Arts were Mostly Barbarians.
... The Etruscans invented the trumpet, and the Phrygians the ... [1979] In music, Olympus
the ... called Troglodytes invented the sambuca, [1980] a musical instrument. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvi that the inventors of.htm

Psalm CL.
... Him in the sound of the trumpet" (ver.3 ... a general name for all instruments of music,
although usage ... said, to all musical instruments, this instrument, to which ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

The Mustard Seed: a Sermon for the Sabbath-School Teacher
... No Pharisee is likely to stand and blow a trumpet when he is going to ... or purchase
a violin, or by some wind or stringed instrument come at music, but here ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the mustard seed a sermon.htm

The Shadow of Disappointment.
... The hand that evokes such perfect music from the instrument has often ... of their heroes,
but the defeats of their martyrs; and when the trumpet-voice shall ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/the shadow of disappointment.htm

A Talk to Preachers
... the soft lute of love" to "the loud trumpet of war ... The minister should not only hear
good music as often ... of the speaking voice as the instrument of expression ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/a talk to preachers.htm

Israel in Egypt
... Here you praise the instrument; to-day you look on this man ... so much as to say, It
was doleful music which came ... with roll of drum and blast of trumpet they had ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/israel in egypt.htm

Man's Chief End
... the air, the birds, with their chirping music, sing hymns ... What means the noise of
this trumpet?' It was ... be effected, let who will be the instrument, he rejoices ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 mans chief end.htm

The Best of All, God is with Us
... life seems set to a gentle psalm tune, and instead of the sound of the trumpet calling
you to battle, there is only the dulcet music of an instrument of ten ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the best of all god.htm

Why are Men Saved?
... the preacher, under God, may be the instrument of arresting ... will think it more sweet
than music; it will be ... The herald blew the trumpet, and after three blasts ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/why are men saved.htm

Resources
Is the last trumpet of 1 Thessalonians 4 the same as the seventh trumpet of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

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

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the midtribulational view of the rapture (midtribulationism)? | 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 used in War
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