Musical Instruments by Norman A. Rubin For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast day. ( Psalm 81:1-3 .) For many generations research into Biblical music and musical instruments was chiefly of a linguistic nature. Only in last three decades, thanks to important archaeological discoveries, have new horizons been opened for research into ancient music. Figures of male and female musicians, dance groups and orchestras as well as musical instruments, appear in paintings, coinage, sculptures, figurines, filling entire mosaics and frescoes, carved in ivory and stone, and molded in pottery. The various finds have supplied scholars with clues to a material culture and an iconographic basis for determining the shapes of the instruments and, in certain cases, even the actual mode of playing them.

Confirmation is by other external sources, such as the writings of the historians Philo and Josephus (musical events even organized by Herod ( Josephus, Antiquities 15.8.1 ( 270 ), Whiston 1957:463 ), the Apocrypha, the writings of the sectarians of Qumran, and in the Mishnah. F1 Comparative sources from other cultures also add to the knowledge of Biblical music and instrumentation. The Lyre and Harp And his brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. ( Genesis 4:2 ) Jewish Lyres. Ancient Jewish coins bearing representations of stringed instruments. The first mention of musical instruments in the Bible is to be found in the Book of Genesis. These two instruments, the harp (Hebrew: nevel) and the lyre (Hebrew: kinnor), are the two stringed instruments most frequently mentioned in the Bible. The lyre was the chief instrument of the orchestra of the Second Temple. F2 King David, who excelled at playing the lyre), was therefore held in particular honor by the Levites.

According to Josephus, the first-century CE Jewish historian, it had ten strings sounded with a plectrum ( Josephus, Antiquities 8.3.8 ( 94 ), Whiston 1957:463 ). The lyre is box-shaped, with two arms and a yoke, and of an approximate average height of 50-60 cm. Psalteron (harp). Made of wood with ten strings. Heighth 90 cm. Gaza 6th century BCE. Reconstructed according to ancient mosaics. Photo by Advanced Photo and Graphic Service courtesy of the Haifa Museum. The only iconographic evidence of the harp (psaltery) is on a mosaic from Gaza (6th century CE) showing King David playing a harp and not a lyre. It is assumed therefore, that it is a stringed instrument with a broad resonance body, ten or twelve strings and arms made of horns approximately 60.5 cm in height and 38 cm. in width. Josephus mentions it as an instrument plucked with the fingers.

The carrying of the Holy Ark to Jerusalem by King David was accompanied by the playing of "harps, of tambourines and castanets and with cymbals and trumpets." ( II Samuel 6:5 , I Chronicles 13:8 ). The Pipe The pipe mentioned in this verse is probably the HALIL - a reed flute that was used for rejoicing and mourning ceremonies. Another theory is that it is the syrinx - the Greek word for pan-pipes, a row of hollow reed pipes tied together, sounded by blowing across their tops. The Tambourine Let them praise his name with dancing... make melody to him with timbrel and lyre. ( Psalm 149:2-4 .) Woman with Timbrel. Pottery figurine, heighth 10.5 cm. Cyprus 6th century BCE. Photo by Advanced Photo and Graphic Service courtesy of the Haifa Museum. The tambourine or timbrel (a frame skin-taut drum) is mainly a popular instrument used for accompaniment of song and dance. Archaeological finds indicated that it was an instrument mainly played by women.

Thus, Jewish tradition opposed the use of the instrument after the destruction of the Temple as it is based on the belief that TIMBRELS, connected to women and dance, were associated with temptation and corruption. The Castanets The CASTANETS or the POTTERY RATTLES. The numerous finds of pottery rattles (Mena'ane'im - shaking) probably applies to the instrument mentioned in the above passage. The most typical rattles are in the form of a spool, with a loop for suspension and in a fruit or animal shape. Hard objects such as small pebbles or pottery shards were put inside. The Lute The Lute. A bronze figurine, female, playing the lute, heighth 15.5 cm. Beat Shean, 15-13th century BCE. Photo by Advanced Photo and Graphic Service courtesy of the Haifa Museum. The lute (Hebrew: Minnim) as written in the Psalms 81:2 , 150:3 is a stringed instrument similar to the lyre. The Sistrum The sistrum- sliding rattle, pictured on coins, mainly Roman, indicated its usage as a musical instrument in the ancient world.

The Cymbals The cymbals in the Hebrew text were written 'Mezilayim, Zilzalim, Mezillot F3 - bronze plates with a hollow boss and with a metal thumb loop (or with long thin metal arms). Average diameter about 12 cm.. Cymbals were most probably played by the Levites in the Temple. The Trumpets Make two trumpets of beaten silver and use them for summoning the community and breaking camp ....And Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets .... you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings... ( Numbers 10:2-10 .) Stone with inscription "To the Place of Trumpeting to..." discovered in 1969 at the Haram esh-Sharif. Trumpets in this passage were used as a mustering call for the Israelite clans; as a cheering sound into battle; and the sounding was a reminder to the offering on appointed seasons on behalf of the Lord. Later the trumpet was sounded in the presence of royalty; and like the 'SHOFAR' was integral to the service in the Temple.

Biblical TRUMPETS may be classified as follows: TEMPLE TRUMPETS - made of silver, long and conical with broadened bell - as shown on the relief on the Arch of Triumph in Rome. MILITARY TRUMPETS - short and broad, with prominent mouth pieces, as depicted on Bar Kokhba coins minted during the revolt with Rome. The CONCH SHELL found in excavation sites such as Jericho and Hebron indicated it is a form of trumpet for the mustering call to battle. The Shofar The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of ram's horn went marching in front of the Ark of the Lord. ( Joshua 6:8-21 .) Shofar. Ram's horns with silver and gold mouthpieces. The silver one to be sounded on the Day of Atonement. The one with the gold mouthpiece to be sounded on the Feast of Trumpets. Photo by Advanced Photo and Graphic Service courtesy of the Haifa Museum. The SHOFAR F4 - The ritual horn is a natural sound-producing instrument carved from a ram's horn. Its famous appearance was at the siege of Jericho when Joshua blew the SHOFAR, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

(Archaeologists estimate it was used as a signaling instrument that served as a call to his army.) Only after the SHOFAR was taken into the service of the Second Temple did its sound express spiritual significance. It is mentioned in the Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 16) that the SHOFAR for the Feast of Trumpets (Jewish New Year) must be a straight ram's horn with a gold-plated mouthpiece, while on the Day of Atonement, it has to be curved, with silver-plated mouth-piece. Today, the SHOFAR is blown in the synagogue at the final prayer on the Day of Atonement: It is the only live sound preserved from Ancient Israel. "They made BELLS of pure gold and put them around the skirts of the mantle..." ( Exodus 28:33-35 ; 39:25-26 ). Musical instruments are frequently mentioned in the Bible, whether relating to ritual ceremonies or to secular festivities. The Temple Priests blew the trumpets on Holy Days and feasts. The trumpets were also used for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. At coronations the trumpets were blown as part of the formal proclamation.

The SHOFARS (spiritual horn) were sounded in times of peace and in times of war; the KINNOR was the instrument David played before Saul; and "By the waters of Babylon... there we hung our harps on the willow trees°; the reed flute in numerous legends, is connected to supernatural forces, magic, taboos, hidden desires, and other themes. Military commanders, returning victorious from battle, were greeted by song and dances, "his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and dances.." ( Judges 11:34 ). Spontaneous rejoicings after victory in war were accompanied by women who sang, drummed and danced. The Bible is also replete with songs which were always accompanied by musical instruments. The musical accompaniment at the feasts of the rich and, of course, at the kings court is also described several times, often with a note of reproach. Amos denunciations against the external pomp of the cult centers of the northern tribes which the prophet rattled against the roaring of song and the playing of LYRES. For many of the terms of musical instruments, a precise archaeological equivalent can already be proposed. Others still await future excavations.

The Bell In the Bible, the BELL (Pa'amon, Heb) F5 is mentioned as a distinctive feature, along with the pomegranate ornament, of the High Priest; the trappings served as a ritual accessory. The BELL was also used on secular occasions, up to the Byzantine period - as evidenced by finds of different shapes and metals in various archeological sites. Most BELLS found in Palestine are small and are made of bronze with an iron clapper. "And Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances." ( Exodus 15:20-21 ). In the original Hebrew text the name of the instrument is TOF - drum. The TOF (membranophone) is an instrument which produces sound by means of vibration of a tightly strained framed membrane which in turn causes the air to vibrate. The TOF The TOF may be single-frame drums (timbrels); or double-membrane drums that have membranes on each end (both types are still in use in many countries). Friction TOF can be of varying shapes and materials.

They are rubbed by hands or set into vibration by a friction chord or stick. The Tabor The TABOR as mentioned in Psalms 81:2 is a small drum used to accompanied oneself to the playing of a pipe or flute. "...you are commanded, when you hear the sound of horn, pipe, zither, triangle, dulcimer, music and singing of all kind... ( Daniel 3:5 ) Daniel in this passage describes the orchestra of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. The HORN might be a double-pipe wind instrument made up of one melody pipe and one drone pipe. The PIPE is a wind instrument (aerophones) such as pan-pipes, whistles or skin bagpipes. The Zither The ZITHER, in the ancient past, was a musical instrument made of various materials, which produce sound by themselves. There were a diversity of types and in a variety of materials - wood xylophones; musical glasses; stones chipped to give a graded scale; natural materials such a reeds, nut shells, sea shells; metals such as upturned metal bowls.

The Triangle The TRIANGLE is a small musical percussion instrument that consists of a steel triangle, open at one corner, that is struck with a steel rod. (still in use today). Whereas the DULCIMER is an instrument which produced sound by means of vibration of tightly-stretched chords or strings; struck by a small metal or wooden sticks (hammers). The revolt against the Romans in CE 70 and the catastrophe that followed put an end to the Temple-centered music of the Jewish people, and opened a new period in which the synagogue became the focal point of creativity in the musical form and tone. F6 The sounds of the musical notes of the ancient past are lost. Yet the study of comparative Near-Eastern tradition may be able to point to a certain melodic and formal elements as 'very old' that may be a connection to the ancient past. Yet, their attribution to Biblical or early post-Biblical can never be proved or confirmed. "you who pluck the strings of the lute and invent musical instruments like David.." ( Amos 6:5 .) F1The Talmud - collection of Jewish Law and Tradition consisting of the commentaries of the Mishnah and Gemara.

The Sectarians of Qumran seemed to have abstained from the use of instruments holding "the fruit of the mouth" singing, as the pure expression of devotion (some of the hymns are found in the Dead Sea Scrolls). F2After the return from exile in Babylon, music as a sacred art and an artistic sacred act was gradually given its place in the organization of the Temple services. F3The 'MEZZILLOT, of the horses mentioned in Zechariah 14:20, "On that day, not a bell on the war horse.." are probably the same metal ball trappings depicted on Assyrian reliefs. F4The SHOFAR is capable of producing only a few sounds of undefined pitch: "Tekia" - a long sound with a broken ending. "Shevarim" - alternations between basic and over tones. "Teruah" - three sounds on rising fifths. F5BELLS came into use in the Near East only in seventh century BC. Thus, the mention of BELLS in Exodus could only mean metal platelets. F6The use of musical instruments in the synagogue service was prohibited (except for the sound of the SHOFAR), leaving music a strictly vocal art.

PSALMODY, melodic reading of Bible texts, and prayer chants were made to fulfill a function in collective Jewish worship. Photography by Advanced Photo and Graphic Service, Afula, Israel. Emil Gal, manager. Page last edited: 02/07/09 08:46 PM Thank you for visiting B IB What is a Shofar in Judaism? Share By Ariela Pelaia The shofar (שופר‎) is a Jewish instrument most often made from a ram’s horn, though it can also be made from the horn of a sheep or goat. It makes a trumpet-like sound and is traditionally blown on Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. Origins of the Shofar According to some scholars, the shofar dates back to ancient times when making loud noises on the New Year was thought to scare off demons and ensure a happy start to the coming year. It is hard to say whether this practice influenced Judaism.

In terms of its Jewish history, the shofar is often mentioned in the Tanakh (the Torah , Nevi'im, and Ketuvim, or Torah, Prophets, and Writings), Talmud , and in rabbinic literature. It was used to announce the start of holidays, in processions, and even to mark the start of a war. Perhaps the most famous biblical reference to the shofar occurs in the Book of Joshua, where shofarot (plural of shofar) were used as part of a battle plan to capture the city of Jericho: continue reading below our video How to Make a DIY Rosh Hashanah Card "Then the LORD said to Joshua… March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in (Joshua 6:2-5)." According to the story, Joshua followed God’s commandments to the letter and the walls of Jericho fell, allowing them to capture the city. The shofar is also mentioned earlier in the Tanach , when Moses ascends Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. During the times of the First and Second Temple , shofarot were also used along with trumpets to mark important occasions and ceremonies. The Shofar on Rosh HaShanah Today the shofar is most commonly used on the Jewish New Year, called Rosh HaShanah (meaning “head of the year” in Hebrew). In fact, the shofar is such an important part of this holiday that another name for Rosh HaShanah is Yom Teruah, which means “day of the shofar blast” in Hebrew. The shofar is blown 100 times on each of the two days of Rosh HaShanah .

If one of the days of Rosh HaShanah falls on Shabbat , however, the shofar is not blown. According to the famous Jewish philosopher Maimonides , the sound of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah is meant to wake up soul and turn its attention to the important task of repentance (teshuvah). It is a commandment to blow the shofar on Rosh HaShanah and there are four specific shofar blasts associated with this holiday: Tekiah – An unbroken blast lasting about three seconds Sh'varim – A tekiah broken into three segments Teruah – Nine rapid fire blasts Tekiah Gedolah – A triple tekiah lasting at least nine seconds, though many shofar blowers will attempt to go significantly longer, which the audience loves. The person who blows the shofar is called a Tokea (which literally means “blaster”), and it is no easy task to perform each of these sounds. Symbolism There are many symbolic meanings associated with the shofar and one of the best known has to do with the akeidah, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

The story is recounted in Genesis 22:1-24 and culminates with Abraham raising the knife to slay his son, only to have God stay his hand and bring his attention to a ram caught in a nearby thicket. Abraham sacrificed the ram instead. Because of this story, some midrashim claim that whenever the shofar is blown God will remember Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son and will therefore forgive those who hear the shofar’s blasts. In this way, just as the shofar blasts remind us to turn our hearts towards repentance, they also remind God to forgive us for our trespasses. The shofar is also associated with the idea of crowning God as King on Rosh HaShanah . The breath used by the Tokea to make the sounds of the shofar are also associated with the breath of life, which God first breathed into Adam upon the creation of humanity. Shofar - The Ram’s Horn Trumpet ... A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada Introduction A ‘shofar’ is a ram's horn trumpet, one of the earliest wind instruments known to man. Its symbolic use by the people of Israel is described in this article.

The subject of the SHOFAR. The ram's horn trumpet, is one of the first instruments played by the ancient Israelites. Bible references concerning the ‘shofar’ (a Hebrew word which according to Strong's Dictionary, #07782, is translated ‘trumpet’ in 68 of the 72 times it appears in the Old Testament) tell us many meaningful things about this ancient wind instrument. But before we consider the Bible references, here are a few facts concerning the ‘shofar’ taken from the Jewish Encyclopaedia. “It was the voice of the shofar ‘exceeding loud’ issuing from the thick cloud on Sinai that made all in the camp tremble (Ex xix. 16, xx.18): and for this reason while other musical instruments were in each age constructed according to the most advanced contemporary practice, the trumpet family being represented by the long straight silver ‘hazozerah ’ the shofar has never varied in structure from its prehistoric simplicity and crudity. The curved shofar is symbolic of the contrite heart repenting on the most solemn days of Rosh ha Shanah and Yom Kippur.

The shofar represents the windpipe, the spiritual part of the body alongside the gullet, through which the food or the earthly part passes. The sound of the shofar awakens the Higher Mercy = ‘Rahamim ’ The object of the second and third series of ‘teki-ot’ is to bewilder and stagger Satan, who, at first imagining that the Jews are merely complying with the Law, is surprised by the second blowing, thinking perhaps that the Messiah is coming, and finally is dumbfounded, expecting the Resurrection, with which his power will finally cease.” Now let us take a look at some Bible texts. We will simply list them before ending with a short summary. Each time you see the word trumpet in the Old Testament verses below, remember that the original Hebrew word was ‘shofar.’ You may even want to study the full Bible story from which these brief quotations are taken. That is a study in itself. Also, when reading, note when the ‘shofars’ were blown, who blew them, what events did they herald, what were the people of Israel supposed to do when they heard the ‘shofar’ and how did the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob respond.

Note also how the LORD Himself is going to blow the ‘Great Shofar!’ Here are the texts: 1. At Mount Sinai Exodus 19: 16: “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.” Exodus 19: 19: “And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” Exodus 20: 18: “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.” 2.

On the Almighty’s Sabbaths Psalm 81: 3: “Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, inthe time appointed, on our solemn feast day.” Leviticus 23: 24: “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.” Leviticus 25: 9: “Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.” 3. At the Destruction of Jericho Joshua 6: 4: “And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

5: And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him...” Joshua 6: 20: “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” 4.

Victory in Warfare Judges 7: 16: “And he (Gideon) divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers...” Judges 7: 20: And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.” 2 Chronicles 13: 12: And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper. 13: But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. 14: And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

15: Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.” 5. The Return of the Ark 2 Samuel 6: 15: “So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.” 6. The Anointing of King Solomon 1 Kings 1: 34: “And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.” 7. The Dedication of the Temple 2 Chronicles 5: 13: “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD.” 8.

Rebuilding of Jerusalem Nehemiah 4: 18: “For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.” Nehemiah 4: 20: “In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.” 9. A Watchmen’s Responsibilities Ezekiel 33: 3: “If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4: Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5: He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

6: But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.” 10. Warnings Concerning Sins Isaiah 58: 1: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Joel 2: 1: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” 11. The LORD Shall Blow the Shofar!

Zechariah 9: 14: “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” Isaiah 18: 3: “All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when HE bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.” Isaiah 27: 13: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the GREAT trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” 12. Alas! Many Will Not Listen It is an absolute tragedy that, like Israel of old, millions of people pay little or no attention to the Almighty's Word and the warnings it contains. Blindly they stagger on, refusing to acknowledge the Creator's presence, His Word, His Law and His offer of salvation through His only begotten Son Yeshua the Messiah.

This is the greatest mistake the human race has ever made and - alas - is still making! Jeremiah 6: 17: “Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” Summary The ‘shofar,’ the ram's horn trumpet, represents the spokesmen of Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel; through whom His Spirit declares the Truth. It is a musical instrument of antiquity - of God’s own making! A ‘divine shofar’ sounded at Sinai when the Creator of the mighty universe gave Israel His holy law - for all mankind! Blowing its earthly counterpart (the ram's horn) today, is declaring one's acceptance of God's eternal commandments and authority over us. The ‘shofar’ was, and still is, sounded on Yahweh’s High and Holy Days : i.e. the weekly Sabbath , the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and in the day of the New Moon. Blowing it today is a reminder of the Everlasting Covenant between the Almighty God and His chosen people Israel.

The ‘shofar’ was instrumental in triggering the Almighty's power when He demolished the walls of Jericho in the days of Joshua. Blowing it today is an act of living faith in the Almighty's ability to demolish the systems of this world, however high and mighty their ramparts may be. The ‘shofar’ will always herald victory in warfare, provided the people of the LORD are obedient to His law. Blowing it today is a call for divine assistance. The ‘shofar’ was sounded when king David brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. Blowing it today is a sign of our re-commitment to the Holy One of Israel. The ‘shofar’ was sounded when Solomon was anointed king of Israel. Blowing it today is a declaration of our loyalty to the King of Kings, Yeshua the Messiah , One who is wiser and greater than Solomon. The ‘shofar' was sounded when the Temple was dedicated. Blowing it today is a call to worship. The ‘shofar’ was sounded when Israel's exiles returned from captivity to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the second Temple. Blowing it today is a symbol of the restoration of God’s Truth.

The ‘shofar’ was blown by the watchmen on Zion's walls to warn the inhabitants of the sword of the enemy. Blowing it today is a signal to awake to the danger of Satanic attack. The ‘shofar’ was sounded by the watchmen and prophets of Israel to warn of sin. In like manner we must warn God's people else we will have blood on our hands! Blowing it today is a call to faith , repentance and obedience . Before the end of this age, all humanity will hear the LORD Himself sound the Great Shofar, the heavenly trumpet which will raise the dead. Blowing the ram’s horn shofar today is a reminder that we are fast approaching that time. Alas! most people will not heed these warnings, even when they are backed by the Word of God. To them the ‘shofar’ is an embarrassment and divine warnings only stir up contempt and anger. Do not let this happen to you, because that would be a disaster!

For the fact is, the ‘call of the shofar’ signifies all that is dear to the God of Israel: truth, repentance, obedience, dedication, restoration, sanctification, warning, expectation, victory and resurrection from the dead! So in future when you hear the ‘call of the shofar’ remember these things, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and bless His holy Name. It may be that He will spare you in the fast-approaching Day of Judgment ! I will end here with the prayer that YAHWEH the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, Creator of the mighty universe and Father of our Lord and Saviour Yeshua the Messiah will bless all those who seek to trust and obey Him. ‘Amen; Alleluia!’ Revelation 19: (KJV) I speak with A Word of Caution to Preachers ! which comes from the pen of Jack A. Moorman in his booklet Conies, Brass & Easter. In the Son’s Name For the Father’s Glory Elder: Max W. Mader Instruments Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD.

2 Chronicals 5:13 Musical Instruments of the Bible Blowing the Shofar in Jerusalem Musical instruments were an important part of worship in Bible times and their use has spiritual significance. The Shofar (Ramshorn Trumpet) and the Silver Trumpet The shofar was (is) blown in different ways for different purposes. The Shofar is usually made from a rams horn, but longer spiral instruments are made from ibex horns. The shofar is the world's oldest wind instrument and an instrument of spiritual warfare. It is often translated in the Bible as trumpet. The word yovel is translated as "Jubilee" in Leviticus 25, but as "Shofar", or trumpet, in Joshua 6. The shofar is the sound of freedom or release from bondage!

The Encyclopedia Judaica says, "The rams-horn calls upon sinners to repent, awakens thoughts of God's sovereignty, Justice and redeeming power, expresses the Jew's hope that God will before long sound the great shofar to herald deliverance and the ingathering of the exiles to the land of Israel." The shofar was (is) to be blown in God's presence (2 Samuel 6 v15), to crown kings (1 Kings 1 v15), to call people to consecrate themselves (Joel 2 v1), to announce the coming of God's judgment (Joel 2 v1), and to herald the coming of the Lord (Revelation 11 v15). It is also a call to the resurrection of the dead (1 Thesalonians 4 v16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15 v52) Had you thought of using this mighty sound as a weapon in your spiritual warfare ? You can click on the buttons below to hear the different sounds. The sound files are .mp3 files and should play in your media player. You may wish to save the audio files, and place one on your desktop for use at any time.

Or you could use as your Windows start-up sound. We suggest you do this by right clicking on the button and left clicking on "Save Link as" (Firefox) or "Save target as" (Internet Explorer) If you can't save a file, contact us by E-mail so we can E-mail one to you. The Tekieh is a single blast, rising at the end. It is a call to worship and praise. (Psalm 150 v3) The Shavarim is (are - words ending im are plural) three rising blasts. The Shavarim calls for repentance and humility. (Isaiah 58 v1) The shofar – a most mysterious and unique instrument | jewish-art The shofar – a most mysterious and unique instrument Categories Posted on Mar 18, 2011 in Judaica objects: , Shofar by admin 0 Comments There seems to be a cloud of mystery hanging over the shofar. I think this is partially because it’s an ancient musical instrument used throughout thousands of years during sacred religious rituals. If you want to become a shofar expert in no time just read along with me… What is a shofar?

Or, a story involving a little boy and a ram This instrument is a hollow ram’s horn that is bent and curved upwards. The horn of a ram is preferred because it was a ram that was offered as a sacrifice in place of Isaac when his father Abraham bound him on an altar with the intention of sacrificing him to God. Are horns of other animals permitted to use to? The horns of other similar animals can be used instead, but not that of a cow, since it is different than that rams. O.k. so we have the horn, now what do we do with it? In Judaism, this horn is used as a wind instrument. In Hebrew, the act of blowing the shofar is called tekiah. Nowadays it is used only during the month of Elul (September-October) but in biblical times its sound marked several important occasions. What was the shofar used for in ancient times? In biblical times the sound of the blowing of the horn was meant to arouse people’s attention. It was used for reasons such as gathering the men before going out to battle, assembling the people for different reasons or marking significant occasions.

It had a special meaning on Friday On Friday evening before Sabbath began, the sound announced the coming of the Sabbath and was used as a reminder for all merchants to stop work before the holy day began. Another important meaning was the marking of Rosh Hashanah, which is common also nowadays. Let’s learn an interesting insight about this ritual? Rosh Hashanah and the month of Elul Throughout the month of Elul, it is customary to blow the shofar one time at the end of the shaharit prayer of every weekday. This is done to arouse people into a heightened awareness of the need to repent before the ten Days of Awe. But there is one exception On the last day of the month, Rosh Hashanah eve, the horn is not blown. This is to distinguish between the voluntary blowing of Elul and the obligatory blowing of Rosh Hashanah. It is believed that this will confuse Satan and prevent his condemnation. But ther is another deeper meaning that goes way back There are several ideas related to the shofar blown on Rosh Hashanah. The first is that the tekiah symbolizes the crowning of God as Lord of the Jewish people.

In the same manner, the ancient kings used to mark their day of crowning. The second is related to you When hearing the tekiah we revalidate our binding to God just as Abraham did when binding Isaac to the alter. The Sages of blessed memory relate this act to the following passage: “Sound before Me a ram’s horn so that I may remember on your behalf the binding of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and account it to you as if you had bound yourselves before Me”. The third reason relates to a mountain in the desert The tekiah is also to reminds us of the stand at the foot of Mount Sinai, where the Israelites were given the Torah. At this event they witnessed God’s great glory and pledged to follow His commandments. When hearing the sound of the horn, a Jewish person takes upon himself, that which his ancestors took upon themselves when they said “We will faithfully do.” where is this described?

The stand is described in the Book of Exodus as follows: “And there was thunder and lightning…and the voice of the shofar was very powerful, and the entire people that was in the camp trembled…” So you know the why, now let’s get down to the how Learning how to blowing the shofar may take some practice, but once you get the hang of it you’ll see it’s not that hard. There are several sounds that can be produced: The Tekiah: the “blast,” one long blast with a clear tone. The Shevarim: a “broken,” sighing sound of three short calls. The Teruah: the “alarm,” a rapid series of nine or more very short notes. The Tekiah Gedolah: “the great Tekiah,” a single unbroken blast, held as long as possible. It is used at the end of the series of calls. It is interesting that there is no certainty on what a Tekiah sound really is. It could be a shevarim, a teruah or a combination of both. On Rosh Hashana, several combinations are used to accommodate the various opinions. Do you want to hearing this unique sound?

By now you are practically an expert, there is just a bit more to go! You know what the shofar is, what it’s used for, don’t you want to hear the unique sound it provides? Click here to listen to the sound of the shofar The final act of the shofar The final blowing of the horn is again related to the events that took place at Mount Sinai. The shofar was blown after the Torah was revealed, then God told Moses to send the Jewish people back to their tents. This marked the beginning of the true test of the Jews: would they continue serving God when not in His presence? This is where you come in In the same manner, at the end of Neilah prayer (the closing prayer of the Yom Kippur service), the shofar is blown. Announcing that God is starting to make His way back “up” to the higher realms and reminding us that God wants to see how we fill our commitments throughout the year. Another idea related to freedom Sounding the horn on Yom Kippur is also related to the “Shemita” year. This is the Sabbatical year that occurs every seventh year, during which the land remains untouched.

Every seventh Shemitah year is to be sanctified as a Yovel year. On Yom Kippur of the Yovel the horn is blown marking the canceling of debts and freedom for all slaves Now lest not forget the food The most common idea related to the shofar blowing on Yom Kippur is to let people know that the fast is over and that it is permitted to prepare and eat the meal that is eaten on the night after Yom Kippur. Are all Jews obligated to hear the shofar? All people are obligated to hear the shofar except women, children under the age of bar mitzvah, and mentally incompetent people. Those obligated to hear it are permitted to blow it for others, by this assisting them to fulfill this obligation. Women are relieved of this obligation but even so, almost all women do hear it. The only difference is that a woman cannot blow the shofar for a man, since she is not obligated by the Torah to hear it. An important insight to remember: If you blow the shofar, you must have in mind that anyone who hears it will fulfill his obligation to hear it.

Therefore, you may not practice blowing it on Rosh Hashanah; perhaps someone will hear your practice blast and think that he has fulfilled his obligation. shofar A guide for Shofar Players. What is a Shofar? A Shofar is long Rams horn used to proclaim Jewish ceremonial events. It is hollowed out and blown on one end similar to a trumpet. The Ibex is one the most popular rams horns. They usually appear conical with a spiral appearance. According to the Talmud, a Shofar that is legal for ceremonial events must be at least three handbreadths long. There are small Shofars that people sometimes use which are not really Shofars by Talmudic definition. To be accurate so you can use the generic term "Keren", which means "horn" in hebrew. Where is the Shofar in the Bible? The Shofar goes back far into biblical history. It is believed that the Shofar commemorates the Ram caught in the thicket by its horn (Hebrew: Keren). The word "Shofar" can be found in the book of Joshua, chapter 6 in numerous places and in Judges, chapter 7.

Did the Levites use the Shofar in the temple then? Not exactly. The horn used by the Levites is referred to in English as "The Silver Trumpets.". The Hebrew word is Chotzotzerah. The Chotzotzerah (plural: Chotzotzerot) where made of brass and silver overlaid on a mandrel and hammered into shape. How are Shofars used today? In the absence of the temple today, the Shofar is used instead of the Chotzotzerah to proclaim the Jewish high holy days. The holy day, "Rosh HaShannah" or New Year is also called Yom HaTeruah. In many translations, this is referred to as the feast of the trumpets. "Yom" means "Day", "Teruah" means to blow the trumpet or sound alarm. According to tradition: The entire month (Elul) before Rosh HaShannah is reserved to blowing the Shofar (except for the last day. Think of it as a whole month of practice! The shofar is blown each morning. The month of Elul is also the time that people prepare themselves inwardly for the high holy days.

The day long fast of Yom Kippur is also ended at sundown with the Tekiah G'dollah shofar call. The Shofar Calls The Shofar has four basic calls that have been handed down throughout the ages. These terms can be found in the scriptures at various points. The sequence we know today has been handed down as a tradition. There where probably other calls as well, but they have apparently become lost. The names of the calls and description: Tekiah - A Single medium length blast. Low-to-high pitch transition. Hard short push on low pitch, slight sustain on high pitch sometimes ended with a short pushing higher pitch burst. The liberation of the Western Wall is a historic shofar call, it marks the end to a nearly 2000 year silence of the Shofar at the site. It identifies that G-d's promises to the Jewish people will be fulfilled. Shofar Playing Techniques In order to play a Shofar properly, please observe the following steps: 1. Look at the mouthpiece. Shofar mouthpieces are usually irregular. Rotate the Shofar if possible so that the thickest part of the mouthpiece is in the most upright position. This will make playing easier.

2. Place the mouthpiece against your lips. Do not use the very center of your lips, use the fleshy part to the left or to the right. Whichever side feels more comfortable. 3. Take a deep breath, tighten and buzz your lips. (It's similar to a trumpet but requires a looser embouchure) Once you have produced a note, try to see what other notes that you can obtain. If you will push your air-stream in an upward direction, it will help you produce high notes easier. Tighten your lips to get a higher note. To get a long sustained blast, you must learn to breath deeply. Tighten up your abdomen muscles when playing. Wind Instrument players use parts of their lungs that average people never learn to use. Good posture makes a great difference also! Shofar Odors Shofars do emit certain unpleasing odors. Allow an instrument to remain in an open air space after playing. Febreze is useful for deodorizing Shofars. Hydrogen peroxide could be applied in severe cases and it cleans the bell opening nicely. Be warned that it could dissolve the material in the mouthpiece area and hurt its performance.

There are some Shofars available today that have been deodorized, I have no independent reviews on them at this time. Mid-East Mfg now has a functional synthetic Shofar that has no odor and it's attractive for display purposes as well Cracked Shofar or repairs A cracked Shofar can be repair using cyanoacrylate glue (Super Glue). The Gel type is preferable. Be careful to wait for it to dry. Fingernail repair kits can be useful in strengthening weak areas and applying repairs to Shofars. Shofar Care Shofars should be kept in a comfortable temperature environment. Don't leave it the car, the extreme heat or cold will damage it. Shofars can deform in shape if exposed to hot humid conditions. Sunlight will affect its appearance. Things that are used to protect fingernails can be applied but remember, it's not growing. Need a Shofar? Click Here A purchase from here helps support this website.

Shofar | Define Shofar at Dictionary.com shofar or shophar [shoh-fer; Sephardic Hebrew shaw-fahr; Ashkenazic Hebrew shoh-fuh r, shoh-fahr] /ˈʃoʊ fər; Sephardic Hebrew ʃɔˈfɑr; Ashkenazic Hebrew ˈʃoʊ fər, ʃoʊˈfɑr/ Spell Word Origin noun, plural shofars Hebrew, shofroth, shofrot, shofros [Sephardic Hebrew shaw-frawt; Ashkenazic Hebrew shoh-frohs, shoh-frohs] /Sephardic Hebrew ʃɔˈfrɔt; Ashkenazic Hebrew ˈʃoʊ froʊs, ʃoʊˈfroʊs/ (Show IPA). Judaism. 1. a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, sounded in Biblical times chiefly to communicate signals in battle and announce certain religious occasions and in modern times chiefly at synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Origin of shofar Examples from the Web for shofar Expand Historical Examples The sounds of the shofar are very peculiar and harsh, quite unlike the notes of any modern instrument. Bible Animals; J. G. Wood Dr. Beigel has made a most singular discovery concerning the tones of the shofar. Bible Animals; J. G. Wood Then show the class a shofar or a picture of one and ask, "What is this?" British Dictionary definitions for shofar Expand noun (pl) -fars, -phars, -froth, -phroth (Hebrew) (-ˈfrɔt) 1. (Judaism) a ram's horn sounded in the synagogue daily during the month of Elul and repeatedly on Rosh Hashanah, and by the ancient Israelites as a warning, summons, etc Word Origin from Hebrew shōphār ram's horn Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for shofar Expand n. ram's horn blown on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, 1833, from Hebrew shophar "ram's horn," related to Arabic sawafiru "ram's horns," Akkadian shapparu "wild goat." Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Question: What is the ancient Hebrew ceremonial wind instrument made from a ram’s horn?
Answer: Shofar