I'm not talking about Miriam's tambourine (though that's definitely part of it!). I'm talking about something a little more...official. The trumpets.
The Book of Numbers – Bamidbar in Hebrew, meaning "in the desert" – dedicates a passage to these silver instruments. Specifically, Numbers 10:2-3 says, "And the L-rd spoke to Moses, saying: Make for yourself two trumpets of silver." But why? Why did they need trumpets when, as the text tells us, "By word of the L-rd they encamped, and by word of the L-rd they traveled" (Numbers 9:23)?
That's the question Sifrei Bamidbar, an ancient midrashic collection – a kind of running commentary on the Book of Numbers – wrestles with. You might think, since their movements were dictated by divine command, trumpets would be superfluous. But no! Scripture tells us that even though they traveled and encamped by the word of God, the trumpets were still needed. They served a purpose. So, what was it?
The text emphasizes "Make for yourself," using a similar construction to other instances where God instructs Moses to create something. It's not just "make," but "make for YOURSELF." This seemingly small detail sparks a deeper discussion about ownership and responsibility.
Abba Channan, quoting Rabbi Elazar, draws a parallel to the creation of the Ark of the Covenant. Just as God commanded Moses to "Hew for yourself two tablets of stone… and make for yourself an ark of wood" (Deuteronomy 10:1), the materials ultimately came from the community. As Exodus 25:10 says: "And they shall make an ark of shittim wood." So, what gives?
The key, according to this interpretation, lies in the people's adherence to God's will. When they are doing the L-rd's will, it is regarded as theirs. When they are not doing the L-rd's will, it is regarded as belonging to Moses. This is a powerful lesson about shared responsibility and the consequences of straying from the path.
Now, let's get back to the trumpets themselves. The text specifies "two trumpets." Could Moses have commissioned more? Sifrei Bamidbar says no. "Two trumpets" means precisely that – not more, not less. Furthermore, these trumpets were to be identical – similar in appearance, height, and beauty. This uniformity likely symbolized unity and collective purpose.
The verse also uses the word miksheh to describe how they were made. Miksheh implies a solid, hammered piece of metal, the work of a skilled artisan. It suggests strength, durability, and careful craftsmanship.
And finally, what were these magnificent trumpets for? The verse tells us: "and they shall be for you for convoking the congregation." Their primary purpose was to gather the people, to signal the start of a journey, or to assemble them for important announcements. They were, in essence, a call to collective action.
So, next time you read about the Israelites wandering in the desert, remember the sound of those silver trumpets. They weren't just instruments; they were symbols of divine guidance, communal responsibility, and the power of collective action – a powerful reminder that even in the most challenging journeys, we are stronger together, guided by a shared purpose.