Lighthouse Church of All Nations

Israel Mission Trip: 2012

The

Shofar

Image: Dan Bar Dov

1

What is a Shofar?

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that

there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon

the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud;

so that all the people that was in the camp trembled”

(Exod 19:16 KJV).

--

2

What is a Shofar?

The Shofar is the voice of God.

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1. Write one thing you know about

the shofar.

2. Write one thing you’d like to learn

about the shofar tonight.

What do you know?

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Basic Info

The Shofar is a ritual instrument of the

ancient and modern Hebrews.

The word, shofar, means to cut through or

incise. http://www.judaica-guide.com/shofar/ 5

Shofar represented the voice of God, calling to

His people – Ancient Temple Days: Announcements holidays, significant days

and years, as well as call to assembly, war and breaking up

camp

Shofar represented the wailing of a penitent

heart, calling to God for mercy -- Modern

Post-Temple: Used in connection with the new year, new

moon, Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Shofar represents announcement of Christ’s 2nd

coming , calling to break up camp— Future

When was it used?

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History

• The first time the Shofar is mentioned is in Exod19:16-19

when the Israelites had gathered at Mt. Sinai.

• Originated in the ancient Jerusalem temple as one of the

instruments that accompanied services

• Instruments were banned from Jewish prayer with the

temple destruction in AD70, except for the Shofar.

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What do these verses and information

regarding purpose tell you about the

Shofar’s significance?

Why is it significant?

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Importance Reasons for blowing

the Shofar from the

Maimonides:

. Marks the occasion

of enthroning the

Lord as king of the

universe

. Reminds the Jews of

the binding of Isaac

and the way

Abraham withstood

the trial

. Reminds the Jews of

“We shall do, and we

shall hear” Image: Andrew Schwartz

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OT Purpose

Call to Sacred Assembly

Num 10:3, Joel 2:15

Sound the Alarm to Battle

Ezek 33:3-6; Isa 18:3; 1 Kings 1:34; Judges 7:22

Break Up Camp

Call to Repent (Exod 19:16)

Accept God as

King (PS 98:6)

Worship(Num 10:10)

Begin their

journeys (Num 10:6)

Remembered by

the Lord (Num 10:9)

Saved by the

Lord (Num 10:9)

Shout/Walls fall

down (Josh 6:5)

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NT PurposeProphecy Old Testament New Testament Fulfillment

Announce

2nd coming

of the

Messiah!

Blow the Trumpet

“And the LORD shall be seen

over them, and his arrow shall

go forth as the lightning: and

the LORD God shall blow the

trumpet, and shall go with

whirlwinds of the south” (Zech

9:14 KJV)

Lord Himself Descend With the

Shofar of God

"For the Lord Himself will descend

from heaven with a shout, with the

voice of an archangel and with the

shofar of God” (I Thess 4:16).

End Times Announcement: Break Up Camp

Dead shall

rise--Break

Up Camp

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Shofars; for the

Shofars will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,

and we shall be changed" (1 Cor 15:52).

“And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and

remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet

the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (I

Thess 4:17-18). 11

How is it constructed?

“The Shofar of Rosh Hashanah, whose purpose it is to

rouse the Divine in the listener, may not be constructed of

an artificial instrument.

The Shofar is the bent horn of a ram. The ram reminds

one of Abraham's willing sacrifice of that which was most

precious to him. The curve in the horn mirrors the

contrition of the one who repents” (Jewish virtual Library)

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Construction

The Law required that all

ram's horns were tuned

to the same sound.

Unlawful to

add more

notches

Image: http://www.piney.com/Shofar.html

Made of a ram’s horn Not cow or deer

Notches as the end Impedance match to the air 13

Shofar represented the voice of God,

calling to His people.

Shofar represents the wailing of a

penitent heart, calling to God for mercy.

What of the sounds?

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Sounded

Temple Times

• New Year

• Years of Jubilee

• Fast Days

Traditional Times (Post Temple)

• Last month of Hebrew calendar

• First ten days of the Hebrew year (Between

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur -- 100

blasts on each day of Rosh Hashanah.15

Blasts

• Tekiah -- one long blast with a clear tone

• Shevarim -- three shorter blasts

• Teruah -- series of quick blasts (nine or

more)

• Tekiah Gadolah-- single unbroken blast,

held as long as possible

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Blasts

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Rosh Hoshanah

Mishnah decrees that a Jew must hear nine

Shofar blows on Rosh Hashanah.

Order of the blows is: Tekiah, Teruah, Tekiah,

repeated three times

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Prayer. Tekiah: The Jews pray with the Shofar on

Rosh Hashanah. The Tekiah blast signifies

their direct approach to God.

. Teruah: Jews realize they are God’s

creatures -- impotent, broken, and shattered.

. Tekiah: Once they make intimate encounter

during the Teruah, they exit and praise God

with another steady blast. (Correspond to

the12 prayers of the Amidah

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ReferencesEx-Church of Christ Pages. (n.d.) Shofar image. Retrieved on September 24, 2012, from

http://www.shofarot.com/index.php/the-shofar/secondtemple/

God’s Outreach Ministries, Inc. (n.d.) Hast not the blast of the Shofar heard?. Retrieved on

September 24, 2012, from http://www.godsoutreachministryint.org/Shofars.htm

Hebraic Studies. (n.d.) The Shofar or ram’s horn. Retrieved on September 24, 2012, from

http://www.anchor-church-surfside.org/Hebraic%20Studies/ACS%20Shofar.htm

Judaica Guide. (2012). Shofar. Retrieved on September 24, 2012, from http://www.judaica-

guide.com/shofar/

My Jewish Learning. (n.d.). The Shofar as prayer. Retrieved September 24, 2012, from

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Rosh_Hashanah/In_the_Com

munity/Shofar/Traditional_Teachings.shtml

Shofarat Israel. (2009). About the manner of blowing the Shofar. Retrieved on September 24,

2012, from http://www.shofarot.com/index.php/the-shofar/secondtemple/

Yasheva.org.il. Laws about blowing the Shofar. Retrieved on September 24, 2012, from

http://e.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/shiur.asp?id=6251. 20