Numbers 10 · Verse 2

Numbers 10:2

Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Numbers 10:2, King James Version

Numbers 10:2 in other translations

BSB“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.
WEB“Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps.
ASVMake 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.
YLT‘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;
DARBYMake thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall serve for the calling together of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
BBEMake two silver horns of hammered work, to be used for getting the people together and to give the sign for the moving of the tents.
WebsterMake thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them; that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

What does Numbers 10:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Nu 10:1-36. The Use of the Silver Trumpets.

2. Make thee two trumpets of silver--These trumpets were of a long form, in opposition to that of the Egyptian trumpets, with which the people were convened to the worship of Osiris and which were curved like rams' horns. Those which Moses made, as described by Josephus and represented on the arch of Titus, were straight, a cubit or more in length, the tubes of the thickness of a flute. Both extremities bore a close resemblance to those in use among us. They were of solid silver--so as, from the purity of the metal, to give a shrill, distinct sound; and there were two of them, probably because there were only two sons of Aaron; but at a later period the number was greatly increased (Jos 6:8; 2Ch 5:12). And although the camp comprehended 2,500,000 of people, two trumpets would be quite sufficient, for sound is conveyed easily through the pure atmosphere and reverberated strongly among the valleys of the Sinaitic hills.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Make thee two trumpets of silver - The necessity of such instruments will at once appear, when the amazing extent of this numerous army is considered; and how even the sound of two trumpets could reach them all is difficult to conceive; but we may suppose that, when they were sounded, the motion of those that were within reach of that sound taught the others in succession what they should do. As the trumpets were to be blown by the priests only, the sons of Aaron, there were only two, because there were only two such persons to use them at this time, Eleazar and Ithamar. In the time of Joshua there were seven trumpets used by the priests, but these were made, according to our text, of rams' horns, Jos 6:4. In the time of Solomon, when the priests had greatly increased, there were 120 priests sounding with trumpets, 2Chr 5:12. Josephus intimates that one of these trumpets was always used to call the nobles together, the other to assemble the people; see Num 10:4. It is possible that these trumpets were made of different lengths and wideness, and consequently they would emit different tones. Thus the sound itself would at once show which was the summons for the congregation, and which for the princes only. These trumpets were allowed to be emblematical of the sound of the Gospel, and in this reference they appear to be frequently used. Of the fate of the trumpets of the sanctuary, See the note on Exo 25:31.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 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…

Read the full comment on Numbers 10:1-10 →

Numbers 10:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עֲשֵׂ֣ה'a.SehmakeH6213
לְךָ֗le.Khafor <the> yourself
שְׁתֵּי֙she.TeitwoH8147
חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣תcha.tzotz.Rottrumpets ofH2689
כֶּ֔סֶףKe.sefsilverH3701
מִקְשָׁ֖הmik.Shahhammered workH4749
תַּעֲשֶׂ֣הta.'a.Sehyou will makeH6213
אֹתָ֑ם'o.Tam<obj.> themH853
וְהָי֤וּve.ha.Yuand they will beH1961
לְךָ֙le.Khafor <the> you
לְמִקְרָ֣אle.mik.Ra'for [the] convocation ofH4744
הָֽעֵדָ֔הha.'e.Dahthe congregationH5712
וּלְמַסַּ֖עu.le.ma.Sa'and for breakingH4550
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת\׃Ha.ma.cha.Notthe campsH4264

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 10:2

  • Joel 1:14

    Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,

  • Isaiah 1:13

    Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

  • Psalms 81:3

    Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

  • Exodus 25:18

    And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

  • Ephesians 4:5

    One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

  • Numbers 10:7

    But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

  • Psalms 89:15

    Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

  • 2 Kings 12:13

    Howbeit there were not made for the house of the Lord bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord:

  • Exodus 25:31

    And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:12

    Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

  • Hosea 8:1

    Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
two trumpets.The necessity of such instruments will at once appear, when the amazing extent of this army is considered. There were various kinds of trumpets among the ancients, of different forms and materials, as Eustathius shews on Homer, where he mentions six; the second of which was [stroggule,] turned up round, like a ram's horn; which he says the Egyptians used (from being invented by Osiris) when they assembled the people to their sacrifices. But in opposition to that form, Moses commands these to be made long, in the shape of those used at present. So Josephus informs us, who says they were near a cubit long; the tube of the thickness of a common pipe or flute; the mouth no wider than just to admit blowing into them; and their ends wide like those of a modern trumpet.
2Ki 12:13; 2Ch 5:12
of a whole piece.
Ex 25:18,31; Eph 4:5
the calling.
7; Ps 81:3; 89:15; Isa 1:13; Ho 8:1; Joe 1:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 10:1

    And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

  • Numbers 10:2

    Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

  • Numbers 10:3

    And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Read all of Numbers 10

Numbers 10:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hazte dos trompetas de plata; de obra de martillo las harás, las cuales te servirán para convocar la congregación, y para hacer mover el campo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Fais-toi deux trompettes; tu les feras d’argent battu; et elles te serviront pour la convocation de l’assemblée, et pour le départ des camps.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mache dir zwei Trompeten von Silber; in getriebener Arbeit sollst du sie machen; und sie sollen dir dienen zur Berufung der Gemeinde und zum Aufbruch der Lager.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fac tibi duas tubas argenteas ductiles, quibus convocare possis multitudinem quando movenda sunt castra.