Notes about the Shofar and Chatzotzarot. Numbers 10

1. There's a difference between the shofar ( שפר ) and the chatzotzarot ( חצצרת ).
   
   1. The shofar:
      
      1. It must be from the horn of a kosher animal; but, it cannot be the horn of a bull because of the sad incident involving the golden calf.
         
      2. The first usage of the term "shofar" is in Exodus 19:16, 19. In response to the "voice of the shofar", the people "shuddered" ( חרד --harad). This term is used again in the context of the shofar in 1 Kings 1:32-53. This will show up later in the outline.
         
      3. Shofar has a relationship with the word Shafat ( שפת). Shafat is the word for "to judge."
         
      4. Shofar is often mistranslated as trumpet, which in our mind has a different connotation and look. Our concept of trumpet is closer to the term chotzotzarot.
         

 

1. The chatzotzarot (The –ot ending lets us know that this is plural, because they were blown as a pair):
   
   1. Read Numbers 10:1-10. The chatzotzarot are made of hammered silver.
      
   2. The tekiah (long blasts) and teruah (short blasts) are listed here. Listen to some paragraphs from HOREB, pgs. 136-137.
      
   3. They are used in war, 10:9. Teruah is used.
      
   4. They are used at the festivals, at Rosh Chodeshim (New Moons), over elevation-offerings ( עלה ), and festival peace-offerings ( שלמים ).
      
   5. Note: Read HOREB pg. 140, note 232.
      

   
    

1. The Meanings of the Blowings on Rosh HaShanah
   

   Leviticus 23:24
   

       Literally: The DABAR (word) towards [the] children of Israel saying, "In the CHODESH (month, new) seventh on [the] first to the month, there shall be to you a SHABBATON (great Shabbat) of REMEMBERING a TERUAH (blowing/blasting), a MEETING (or CONVOCATION) HOLY (SET APART).
   

   
    

   Perhaps the TERUAH word indicates why SHOFAR should be primary here, and not CHATZOTZAROT, which sound primarily TEKIAH.
   

   
    

   
    

   
    

   1. Meaning of TEKIAH: Listen to selection from HOREB, pgs 138-139
      
   2. Meaning of TERUAH: Listen to selection from HOREB, pg. 138.
      
   3. Meaning of SHEVARIM: this is a form of a TERUAH, pg. 139.
      
   4. Meaning of TEKIAH HAGADOL: an ending TEKIAH, an extra emphasis on disbanding, or that something is over.
      

 

1. Selected passages regarding Shofar:\
   
   1. Genesis 22 (the Akedah). 22:10-14. The ram's horn is mentioned.
      
   2. Exodus 19, which we already read.
      
   3. Not mentioned in Leviticus 23, for Rosh HaShanah. The term "Feast of Trumpets" should properly be translated, "Feast of Blowing."
      
   4. Lev. 25:9 Sound TERUAH for Yom Kippur, for the Year of Jubilee, the year of setting free.
      
   5. Numbers 10. This is about the Chatzotzarot, not the Shofar, but the application of the "blowings" comes from here.
      
   6. Joshua 6:3-5. The priests blow the TEKIAH while marching around seven times on the seventh day. At the final moments, they blew TERUAH (6:5), the people shout, and the walls come tumbling down.
      
   7. Judges 6:34. Gideon blows TEKIAH, and people gather behind him. Judges 7:16,18. Gideon and the men blew TEKIAH and their enemies defeated each other.
      
   8. I Sam. 13:3. Saul blows TEKIAH to get people to hear him.
      
   9. II Sam. 6:15. David had TERUAH sounded while carrying the ark back to Jerusalem. This sets a more sad tone, a repentant tone to the celebration of the return of the ark to Jerusalem.
      
   10. *** I Kings 1:32-53 The anointing (משך -Meshech) of king Solomon as King, and the capitulation of Adonijah. The Shofar was sounded, and those that associated with Adonijah, including the general Joab, "went their own direction.
       

   New Testament
   

   1. Mt. 6:2 Corrupted use of Shofar
      
   2. Mt. 24:31 Compare this with the anointing of Solomon.
      
   3. Revelations 7 trumpets. What do we make of this? Are these TEKIAHs that are sounded, or TERUAHs? Because of the Greek, and because of the shifting cultural contexts, it is hard to see the Hebraic understanding.