Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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to make but two, because there were but two priests to use them. But in Solomon's time we read of 120 priests sounding with trumpets, 2Ch 5:12. The form of these trumpets is supposed to have been much like ours at this day.
2. Who were to make use of them; not any inferior person, but the priests themselves, the sons of Aaron, Nu 10:8. As great as they were, they must not think it a disparagement to them to be trumpeters in the house of God; the meanest office there was honourable. This signified that the Lord's ministers should lift up their voice like a trumpet, to show people their sins (Isa 58:1), to call them to Christ, Isa 27:13. 3. Upon what occasions the trumpets were to be sounded.
(1.) For the calling of assemblies, Nu 10:2. Thus they are told to blow the trumpet in Zion for the calling of a solemn assembly together, to sanctify a fast, Joe 2:15. Public notice ought to be given of the time and place of religious assemblies; for the invitation to the benefit or ordinances is general: whoever will, let him come. wisdom cries in the chief places of concourse. But, that the trumpet might not give an uncertain sound, they are directed, if only the princes and elders were to meet, to blow but one of the trumpets; less should serve to call them together, who ought to be examples of forwardness in any thing that is good: but, if the body of the people were to be called together, both the trumpets must be sounded, that they might be heard at the greater distance. In allusion to this, they are said to be blessed that hear the joyful sound (Ps 89:15), that is, that are invited and called upon to wait upon God in public ordinances, Ps 122:1. And the general assembly at the great day will be summoned by the sound of the archangel's trumpet, Mt 24:31.
(2.) For the journeying of the camps, to give notice when each squadron must move; for no man's voice could reach to give the word of command: soldiers with us that are well disciplined may be exercised by beat of drums. When the trumpets were blown for this purpose, they mustsound an