101 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2 'Make to thee two trumpets of silver; beaten work thou dost make them, and they have been to thee for the convocation of the company, and for the journeying of the camps; 3 and they have blown with them, and all the company have met together unto thee, unto the opening of the tent of meeting. 4 And if with one they blow, then have the princes, heads of the thousands of Israel, met together unto thee; 5 'And ye have blown—a shout, and the camps which are encamping eastward have journeyed. 6 'And ye have blown—a second shout, and the camps which are encamping southward have journeyed; a shout they blow for their journeys. 7 'And in the assembling of the assembly ye blow, and do not shout; 8 and sons of Aaron, the priests, blow with the trumpets; and they have been to you for a statute age-during to your generations. 9 'And when ye go into battle in your land against the adversary who is distressing you, then ye have shouted with the trumpets, and ye have been remembered before Jehovah your God, and ye have been saved from your enemies. 10 'And in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed seasons, and in the beginnings of your months, ye have blown also with the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings, and they have been to you for a memorial before your God; I, Jehovah, 'am' your God.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 10:1-10
Commentary on Numbers 10:1-10
(Read Numbers 10:1-10)
Here are directions concerning the public notices to be given the people by sound of trumpet. Their laws in every case were to be Divine, therefore, even in this matter Moses is directed. These trumpets typify the preached gospel. It sounds an alarm to sinners, calls them to repent, proclaims liberty to the captives and slaves of Satan, and collects the worshippers of God. It directs and encourages their heavenly journey; stirs them up to combat against the world and sin, encouraging them with the assurance of victory. It leads their attention to the sacrifice of Christ, and shows the Lord's presence for their protection. It is also necessary that the gospel trumpet give a distinct sound, according to the persons addressed, or the end proposed; whether to convince, humble, console, exhort, reprove, or teach. The sounding of the trumpet of the gospel is God's ordinance, and demands the attention of all to whom it is sent.