Topical Encyclopedia
The Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah in Jewish tradition, is one of the appointed feasts of the Lord as outlined in the Old Testament. It is observed on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri, according to the Hebrew calendar. This feast marks the beginning of the civil new year in Jewish tradition and is a time of spiritual reflection and renewal.
Biblical FoundationThe Feast of Trumpets is instituted in
Leviticus 23:23-25: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and say, "On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. You must not do any regular work, but you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD."'"
Numbers 29:1 further elaborates on the observance: "On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. This is a day for you to sound the trumpets."
Significance and ObservanceThe blowing of trumpets, or shofars, is a central element of this feast. The trumpet blasts serve as a call to repentance and a reminder of God's sovereignty. The sound of the shofar is intended to awaken the spiritual consciousness of the people, prompting them to reflect on their lives and return to God.
The Feast of Trumpets is a time of introspection and preparation for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which follows ten days later. These ten days, known as the Days of Awe, are a period of repentance and seeking forgiveness.
Symbolism and Prophetic ImplicationsIn addition to its historical and spiritual significance, the Feast of Trumpets holds prophetic implications within Christian eschatology. Many conservative Christian theologians see the trumpet blasts as symbolic of the future return of Christ. This is supported by passages such as
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which states, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
The Feast of Trumpets is thus seen as a foreshadowing of the final gathering of God's people and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Cultural and Liturgical PracticesIn Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is observed with various customs, including the sounding of the shofar, prayer services, and festive meals. It is a time for personal reflection, prayer, and the seeking of reconciliation with others. The liturgy often includes the recitation of Psalms and other prayers that emphasize God's kingship and the hope for redemption.
The Feast of Trumpets, while rooted in Jewish tradition, continues to hold significance for Christians as a reminder of God's call to repentance and the anticipation of Christ's return.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Feast Of Trumpets(Numbers 29:1; Leviticus 23:24) the feast of the new moon, which fell on the first of Tisri. It differed from the ordinary festivals of the new moon in several important particulars. It was one of the seven days of holy convocation. Instead of the mere blowing of the trumpets of the temple at the time of the offering of the sacrifices, it was "a day of blowing of trumpets." In addition to the daily sacrifices and the eleven victims offered on the first of every month, there were offered a young bullock, a ram and seven lambs of the first year, with the accustomed meat offerings, and a kid for a sin offering. (Numbers 29:1-6) The regular monthly offering was thus repeated, with the exception of the young bullock. It has been conjectured that (Psalms 81:1) ... one of the songs of Asaph, was composed expressly for the Feast of Trumpets. The psalm is used in the service for the day by the modern Jews. Various meanings have been assigned to the Feast of Trumpets; but there seems to be no sufficient reason to call in question the common opinion of Jews and Christians, that if was the festival of the New Year's day of the civil year, the first of Tisri, the month which commenced the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee.
Library
Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's ...
... comp. The Temple,' &c., p.295), the Feast of Trumpets, or New Year's Day,
the Day of Atonement, and the feast of Esther, or Purim. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xv the location of.htm
Reading the Law with Tears and Joy
... The seventh month was the festival month of the year, its first day being that of
the Feast of trumpets, and the great Feast of tabernacles as well as the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/reading the law with tears.htm
Whether the Ceremonies of the Old Law Ceased at the Coming of ...
... spirit: the feast of the New Moon, to Lady Day, when appeared the first rays of
the sun, ie Christ, by the fulness of grace: the feast of Trumpets, to the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the ceremonies of the 3.htm
The Sacred Officers and Sacred Occasions.
... (3) The Feast of Trumpets, October 1. (Lev.23:23-25; Num.29:1-6), the beginning
of the civil year. (4) The Day of Atonement, October 10. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii the sacred officers.htm
Instructed in the Law of God
... It was the time of the Feast of Trumpets. Many were gathered at Jerusalem.
The scene was one of mournful interest. The wall of Jerusalem ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 56 instructed in the.htm
At the Unknown' Feast in Jerusalem, and by the Pool of Bethesda.
... of joy, willing givers brought from all parts of the country the wood required for
the service of the Altar; or else the Feast of Trumpets' on the 1st of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii at the unknown.htm
At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
... on the breeze, or the clear blast of the Priests silver trumpets seemed to ... Truly,
well might Israel designate the Feast of Tabernacles as the Feast' (haChag ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi at the feast.htm
At the Feast of Tabernacles
... But the most impressive ceremony of the feast, one that called forth greatest ... day,
the priests sounded a long, shrill blast upon their silver trumpets, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 49 at the feast.htm
Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... The feast of Trumpets was a kind of invitation whereby they prepared themselves
to keep the following feast which was kept on the tenth day. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm
In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... of worshippers, who on the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' are leaving ...
willow-branches, with which, amidst the blasts of the Priests' trumpets, they adorned ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm
Resources
What is a love feast? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgFeast: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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