John Calvin Commentary Numbers 10:2

"Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them: and thou shalt use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps." — Numbers 10:2 (ASV)

Make you two trumpets of silver. This passage regarding the silver trumpets, which gave the gathering-signal so that the people should always be attentive to the voice and will of God, is properly connected to the First Commandment. For God wanted the Israelites to be set in motion by their sound wherever they were to go, so that they should not dare to begin anything either in war or in peace, except under His guidance and auspices, as it were.

Their use was threefold: namely, to gather the people or the rulers to public assemblies; to arm them against their enemies; and, thirdly, to announce the sacrifices and festivals.

It might seem absurd, and somewhat improper, to appoint the priests to be trumpeters, since there was no splendor or dignity in this office. However, God intended in this way to awaken greater reverence in the minds of the people, so that the authority of the priests should precede all their actions.

For this office, to which they were appointed, was not a servile one, such that they would blow the trumpets at the command of others. Rather, God thus set them over public affairs so that the people might not tumultuously call their assemblies in the blindness and rashness of passion, but rather that modesty, gravity, and moderation should be observed in them.

We know how often in earthly affairs God is not regarded, but plans are confidently discussed without reference to His word. He testified, therefore, by this employment of the priests, that all assemblies, except those in which He should preside, were accursed. Pagan nations also had their ceremonies, such as auguries, supplications, soothsayings, and victims,⁷⁵ because natural reason dictated that nothing could be engaged in successfully without Divine assistance. But God wanted His people to be bound to Him in another way, so that, when called by the sound of the sacred trumpets as by a voice from heaven, they should assemble for holy and pious deliberations.

The circumstance of the place also has the same object. The door of the Tabernacle was to them as if they placed themselves in the sight of God. We will speak of the word מועד, mogned,⁷⁶ elsewhere. Although it signifies an appointed time or place, and also an assembly of the people, I prefer translating it convention, because God there in a solemn manner, as if before His sacred tribunal, called the people to witness, or, according to appointment, proceeded to make a covenant with them.

He was also unwilling for wars to be undertaken hastily, or with the desire for vengeance, but wanted the priests to perform the office of heralds (feciales), so that He Himself might be their originator. It was also honorable for the priests to be the proclaimers of the festivals and to summon the people to the sanctuary.

Now, since we understand the Legislator's intention, let us briefly touch upon the words. We have said that the priests, when they sounded, were, as it were, the organs or interpreters of God, so that the Israelites might depend upon His voice and commandment.

If only the princes or heads of thousands were to be called, they sounded only once; if it was a convocation of the whole people, they doubled the sound. A similar distinction was observed in war, so that a different signal would be given according to which camps were to advance.

Some use the fictitious word taratantara,⁷⁷ in place of what I have translated 'with jubilation'; it is probable that it was a louder and more protracted sound, but blown with intervals.

We must, however, observe the promise, which is inserted, that the Israelites should be remembered before the Lord, that He should put their enemies to flight. This was not as if the safety or deliverance of the people was attached to the trumpets, but because they did not go to battle except in reliance on God’s aid.

For the reality itself is conjoined with the external symbol: namely, that they should fight under God, follow Him as their Leader, and account all their strength to be in His grace.

And that all the saints were guided by this rule appears from Psalm 20:7:

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

And again, There is no king saved by the multitude of an host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy (Psalms 33:16–18).

⁷⁵ “Comme d’espier le vol des oiseaux, ou de regarder les entrailles des sacrifices, et meme sacrifier, et faire prieres solennelles;” such as observing the flight of birds or examining the entrails of sacrifices, and even sacrificing and offering solemn prayers. — ;” such as observing the flight of birds or examining the entrails of sacrifices, and even sacrificing and offering solemn prayers. — Fr.

⁷⁶ “Le mot Hebrieu, que nons avons translate convenance.” — .” — Fr. An heemantic from An heemantic from יעד, to give previous notice, to summon together. , to give previous notice, to summon together. W.

⁷⁷ Thus Malvenda in Poole’s Syn., “et clangetis taratantara ” The word is used by Ennius “ ” The word is used by Ennius “At tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit.” — .” — Serv. in, AEn, 4. , 4. A.V., “an alarm."., “an alarm."