Commandment Details

Mishneh Torah #: 121
Mishneh Torah Book #: 3
Mishneh Torah Book: Times
Mishneh Torah Category: 19- Fasts
Reference: Numbers 10:9
Scripture Book: Numbers
Scripture Chapter: 10
Scripture Verse: 9
English: When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies.
Hebrew: ט וְכִי-תָבֹאוּ מִלְחָמָה בְּאַרְצְכֶם, עַל-הַצַּר הַצֹּרֵר אֶתְכֶם--וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם, בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת; וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּם, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּם, מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶם.
Greek: 9 ἐὰν δὲ ἐξέλθητε εἰς πόλεμον ἐν τῇ γῇ ὑμῶν πρὸς τοὺς ὑπεναντίους τοὺς ἀνθεστηκότας ὑμῖν, καὶ σημανεῖτε ταῖς σάλπιγξιν καὶ ἀναμνησθήσεσθε ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ διασωθήσεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν.
Parashah: 36- B'ha'alot'cha
Sefer Hachinuch #: 384
Sef. Hach. Command: The precept of sounding trumpets at the sanctuary and in battle
Category: Prayer and Confession
We can perform today: Yes

"When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies." (Exodus 30:13) The literal commandment is to sound an alarm with trumpets when going to war in the Land of Israel against those who attack you.

The Literal Commandment

When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. (Exodus 30:13)

The literal commandment is to sound an alarm with trumpets when going to war in the Land of Israel against those who attack you.

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment to cry out to G-d in the midst of war (and traditionally other catastrophes as well) pictures Messiah's repeated exhortations to seek G-d, to cry out to Him, to cling to Him, and to follow His ways.

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment as He was being executed:

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Matthew 27:46)

Contrary to common misconception, He was not stating this directly. He was quoting the words of Psalm 22:

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. (Psalm 22:1-5)

As He was dying, Messiah fulfilled this commandment and cried out to His heavenly Father.

Traditional Observance

The traditional observance of this commandment involves sounding a trumpet of alarm in time of troubles. It is a reminder to cry out to G-d for deliverance from those trials.

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment and cry out before G-d in times of trial or catastrophe.

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To afflict and cry out before G-d in times of catastrophe