By Batya Wooten
Used by permission
Key of David Publishing
“Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the campus set out. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the ten of meeting.
If only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you. When you blow an alarm, the camps … shall set out … When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. The priestly sons of Aaron shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statue throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, you shall sound an alarm with trumpets, that you may be remembered before Yahveh your God” (Numbers 10:1-10).
Yom Teruah is one of my favorite days of the Biblical year! Called the “Day of Blowing,” it also is sometimes called The Feast of Trumpets. And, I believe that, at least in part, it is a feast that we, Messiah’s Body, are called to fulfill!
If so, then to be part of that fulfillment, will be like living in Bible times!
Born on Sukkot (Tabernacles), our Messiah became our Passover Lamb, was raised as the First of First Fruits, poured out His Spirit on His people at Shavuot (Pentecost), and, it is believed by many that He will return to rule and reign, as the Judge of the whole earth, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (At One with God, if you will). Then, He will forever Tabernacle here on earth with His people, Israel (See also the Heralds: The Tabernacles Celebration and Yahveh’s Calendar versus Compromise with Babylon and Rome).
But this leaves out Yom Teruah.
What is its purpose? How is it fulfilled?
To begin, we assume all readers have a basic understanding of the Father’s latter-day plan to reunite the two sticks of “Ephraim and Judah,” to make “both the houses of Israel” one stick in His Hand” (Isaiah 8/14, Ezekiel 37:15-28).
Now in Jewish tradition, this day is called Rosh Hashanah, because, after Judah was taken captive to Babylon – like the Babylonians among whom they were forced to dwell – Judah began to call this day the Head of the Year.
However, our Father told us, “This month [Abib, which corresponds to March-April] shall be the beginning of months for you” (Exodus 12:2).
Many claim Rosh Hashanah is but a “civil” year celebration. However, at this time, the rabbis begin anew their yearly cycle of Torah readings – which surely indicates a “spiritual” calendar.
Realizing that “both houses” have “stumbled” and thus erred, as Ephriam seeks to return to his roots, he would do well to be careful to embrace only “Biblical” roots. Let him not trade in “Roman mistakes” for “Babylonian blunders” (See also the Heralds: The Tabernacles Celebration* and Yahveh’s Calendar versus Compromise with Babylon and Rome*).
Ephraim also would do well to realize that the Father still wants him – he being the formerly “wild” olive branch – to provoke Judah – to make them want what they have – that being a living relationship with the Messiah of Israel (Ephriam is the wild olive branch (Jer. 11:10, 16, 2:18, 21, Rom 11).
Moreover, he needs to realize that he will not provoke Judah by becoming “more Jewish than the Jew.” Instead, Ephriam needs to catch a vision. He needs to see that he still has a great role to play, by better understanding Torah, and in latter-day celebrations of the “feasts of Israel.”
Ephraim’s Call
The Father’s plan of salvation for “all Israel” is to have Ephraim provoke Judah to “envy.” But instead, in many cases, he is “jealous” of Judah (Romans 11:11, Isaiah 11:13). However, in this last day, this order will be reversed. The Holy One has declared that Ephraim’s jealousy of Judah “will depart.” And this will happen as Ephraim learns of his own Israelite roots. Then, his season of jealousy is over (Jeremiah 31:18-19).
Moreover, how the Father plans to make Judah want to emulate Ephraim is revealed in the parable of the prodigal: As stated in the Herald, From Orphans to Heirs*, the way the “returning prodigal” (Ephraim) made the older son (Judah) jealous, was by “celebrating and rejoicing.” “Making merry” made the older son jealous.
In Greek, it is “euphraino, euphraino” which means, to be in a good frame of mind, to make glad, to be or to make merry, to rejoice (See Luke 15:11-32 and Strong’s #G2165).
Legalism and religion will not provide Judah. Celebration will. This explains why so many non-Jews are feeling an unexplainable urge to “celebrate the Feasts of Israel”.
So, the question is, what is the real meaning behind the Biblical Day of Blowing and how might we celebrate it?
To answer, let us review our Father’s instructions for the Day of Blowing (number 10:1-10).
The Purposes of The Two Trumpets
To celebrate Yom Teruah, Yahveh said to make “two trumpets of silver hammered work.” He also said that “priests” were to blow them to summon “all the congregation,” or, “to have the campus set out.” Also, they were to be sounded “when we go to war in our land,” so we will “be remembered before Yahveh our God,” and, by Him, “be saved from our enemies” (Numbers 10:1-10).
It is the unified sound of these two trumpets that will serve to gather “all” Israel.
The Two Trumpets Depict …
There are “two trumpets,” and there are two houses of Israel: Judah and Ephraim.
Trumpets depict “voices,” and historically, there have been only two people groups in the Earth who have been giving voice to a good testimony about the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Those two people groups are, “Christians and Jews.” They are the only two major people groups who both claim that He is “their God.”
This is not to imply that everyone who claims to be part of either group is acceptable to the Father. It is simply to state that, both claim to believe in Him, and for centuries on end, both have been giving “testimony” about Him.
Thus, the fact is that, in the Earth, they have been “two witnesses” for the God of Israel (There are: two houses (Isa 8:14), two nations (Eze 35:10), two families (Jer 33:24), two sisters (Eze 23:2-4), two branches (Zec 4:11-14), two sticks (Eze 37:15-28), two lampstands (Rev 11:3-4), and two witnesses (Rev 11:3-4). Moreover, long ago the Father said of the people of Israel, “You are My witnesses” (Isaiah 43:10). And, He Himself divided the twelve tribes of Israel into two houses (2 Chronicles 11:4).
Further, He declared that, in Israel, all things must be confirmed by, “two or more” before it can be “established,” confirmed, believed (Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, John 8:17, 2 Corinthians 13:1).
The problem is that, in many ways the voices of these two people groups have not been sounding in “unison.” Instead, they have even been denying one another. And, the two “trumpets/voices of Teruah” are to be sounded in complete unison.
The twin trumpets of Teruah forecast two latter-day voices that speak in perfect harmony. They especially foretell the latter-day voices of “two witnesses” who finally serve their purpose – they confirm the Father’s truth in the earth.
Again, we must realize that it is only the unified sound of these two voices that will gather “all” Israel!
Hammered Until We Repent
These all-important trumpets are made of “hammered silver.” Silver speaks of redemption (Gen 20:16, Lev 5:15, 27:3 & 6, Num 18:16). It also symbolizes refinement (Psa 12:6, 66:10, Isa 48:10, Eze 22:22, Mal 3:3). And, Yahveh says of His two witnesses:
“Behold, I will refine them … in order to refine, purge, and make them pure, until the end time … I will … refine them as silver … and … they will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, “They are My people’, and they will say, “The Lord is my God’ … As purifier of silver, He will purify … and refine .. that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness” (Jeremiah 9:7, Daniel 11:35, Zechariah 13:9, Hosea l:10, Malachi 3:30).
“Hammered” trumpets speak of His molding us through affliction. His “hammered ones”. Have taken their proverbial trip to the “wilderness.” There, as promised, the Father has dealt with them, “face to face” (Ezekiel 20:35).
This foretells a people who have seen the face of the Holy One – and it has forever changed them.
He has purged them of all that needs to be purged. They are a fully pardoned company of Jacob: “Through this Jacob’s iniquity will be forgiven; and this will be the full price of the pardoning of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones; when Asherim and incense altars will not stand” (Isaiah 27:9).
The Hammer and the Unified Testimony
Through both the houses of Israel, the Holy One has been trying to “hammer” out a twofold message. It is the twin truths of Law and Grace. And, as His two witnesses, Ephraim and Judah must come to a place of unity concerning His Holy Word, from Genesis to Revelation. Only then, will we have served our true purpose as “two witnesses” for the God of Israel. Further, we can rest assured that the Holy One will continue to “hammer” us until we get it right! And, there will be those who will get it right! Because the Father always has “7000” on whom He can count (Romans 11:4).
Yom Teruah and You!
In this last day, the Father would like to count on you and me! He would have us catch a vision! He wants us to see that the clear sound of the two Yom Teruah trumpets signals the beginning of the ten days between Teruah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
What does this mean to us in our day? How does it affect our personal lives?
Yom Teruah and the Ten Rich Days
Yom Teruah marks the beginning of a “ten day” period. In Hebrew, ten is ‘eser. Like English number ten, it speaks of accumulation of digits (i.e., seven-teen). However, this word comes from the same root as that of ‘ashar, which means to accumulate; chiefly, to make rich (Strong’s words # H6235 and 6238 respectively).
Speaking of a day when Judah is no longer blinded to the Messiah, the apostle Paul says: “Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!” (Romans 11:12).
The sound of these unified voices marks the beginning of a time of great richness – meaning – a richness of our Father’s power and presence.
Also, the Father speaks of a day when “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” And, He says, “… In that day … I will cut off the names of the idols from the land … and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land …” And, “It will come about … that two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘Yahveh is my God.’ Behold, a day is coming for Yahveh when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you …” (Zechariah 13:1-14:1).
Spoil, riches, are returned to Israel!
The phrase, “ten days,” is mentioned ten times in Scripture. We see it is Daniel’s request that he and his friends be tested for ten days: “Test your servants for ten days …” he asked (Daniel 1:12-14).
Also, Yeshua used this phrase when He spoke to the church/ekklesia of Smyrna: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelations 2:10).
In addition, Yeshua says to this ekklesia: “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan’” (Revelation 2,8-9).
Those having their riches restored will have to battle those who claim to be “Jews,” but are in truth of Satan himself (see Philippians 3:3).
Truly, we have to watch out for both Roman and Babylonian snares, and for those who tout their errant teachings.
Traditionally, this feast begins a time when Israelites are called to make peace with their brother (but not at the price of compromise of truth). Often called the Ten Days of Awe, they mark a time of self-examination and repentance, a time for men to make peace with their brethren, and so to prepare their hearts for Yom Kippur.
Time is short brothers and sisters. And we have an awesome message to declare.
As “priests” of the Most High GOD, we need to encourage our still blinded Israelite brothers. We need to call out: It is time for “all the camps to set out!” We need to cry out: “The cloud is moving! And let us move with it!”
We also must sound the alarm for war against all that would oppress/hinder that which the Father would do in us at this hour. We also must war for our promised Land (Isaiah 11:13-14)!
However, like our forefathers who were in bondage in Egypt, so we too will only be delivered when we have a heart-felt desire for deliverance!
“Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to Yahveh. So Yahveh heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yahveh saw the sons of Israel, and He took notice of them” (Exodus 2:23-25).
We first must want deliverance from this Egypt that binds us! Then Father will “take notice!”
Again, these trumpets are made of silver, or ken’sef. This word comes from kawsaf, a primal root that can be translated as longing.
“My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2; Strong’s #H3701).
Those who go into the furnace of affliction, and so are tried as silver – those who truly long for deliverance from bondage to this world system – those who yearn for the restoration of Yahveh’s Kingdom over all Israel – they will yet sing a new song. For He has sworn: “I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts – They came from you, O Zion; the reproach of exile is a burden on them” (Zephaniah 3:18). Yes, we will yet sing “the song of Moses”! (Revelation 15:3).
There are Believers from both Ephriam and Judah in the reunited house of Messianic Israel. And this means, Israel is once more sounding the twin trumpets of Teruah!
In the past, each house had only one voice, one trumpet. And Scripture reveals the secret that, if only “one” is blown, all you get is “leaders.”
Thus, in church and synagogue alike, we have far too many “leaders”! Moreover, our Messiah called us to be “servants”! (Mark 9:35).
Again, these trumpets are to be sounded by “priests.” And Peter, the apostle, declares that we who are being called forth by Yeshua are, “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belong to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light: (I Peter 2:9).
The trumpets also are to be sounded that “we may be remembered before the LORD our God,” that by Him, we might be “saved from our enemies.”
Very possibly, times that are both exciting and hard lie just beyond the millennium. Before long, our enemies may well be “those of our own households” (Matthew 10:35). So, while we are able, we need to sound our united trumpet voices.
But let us not fear, for, even as a house divided cannot stand, once reunited, Judah and Ephraim will truly be empowered to stand against their enemies (Lune 11;17, Obadiah 1:18, Zechariah 9:13, I Samuel 17:45, Isaiah 11:13-14).
Speaking of the destruction of enemy Babylon, Father says: “’At that time … the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be Yahveh their God they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion [The City of Truth], turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to Yahveh in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. In those days and at that time … search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found” (Jeremiah 50:4-5,20).
Our Father speaks of a sinless Israel, and that sinless Israel will speak forth with a united voice.
Of their reunited sound, the Word says: “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance [presence]” (Psalm 89:15, NMASB). “Happy is the people who know the joyful shout, O LORD …” (Tanakh). “Blessed are the people who know the festal shout …” (RSV). “Blessed – happy, fortunate [to be envied] – are those who know the joyful sound [understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]” (TAB).
The word translated sound, or shout, is teruah! It speaks of the sound of the trumpets! And blessed are those who hear its call!
We invite you to join us as we ask the Ruach HaKodesh to begin to, or continue to, sound the sound of reunion in and through you! In spirit and in truth, let all Israel now go forth in victory!
