Let´s Look at how the Shofar was made, used, and what it´s piercing sound signified to those who heard it.

The Shofar is an animal horn that has been prepared for use as a musical instrument. Scholars question whether the Shofar should be regarded as a musical instrument; it´s function being more to make noise than music.

It´s sound is frequently described by Authorities as: "harsh, shrill and loud." It is made from a RAM, WILD GOAT, ANTELOPE, AFRICAN KUDU, GAZELLE BUT NEVER from a COW or a STEER.

The reason: They don´t want to remind God of the Golden Calf. cow horns were forbidden for ritual blowing apparently because cows were not sacrificial animals.

ref: Mishna, Rosh Ha-Shanah 3:2. The preferred horn is from a ram or a wild goat because it is curved.

This supposedly pictures mans will bending before God.

A small rams horn can be 7 to 9 inches long. A large one can be 14 to 18 inches long. It is measured on the outside curve of the horn.

When you blow on it you can play one overtone or sound two pitches. The African Kudu can be up to 36 inches long with a triple twist. These are very beautiful horns.

There are many more overtones on these horns because they are longer. The sounds created by these longer horns is deep, rich and beautiful. You would call it music and not noise. I have a couple of pics to give an idea of what the horns look like go here to see a Kudu and Antelope.  In reference to overtones, this is like a bugle. You could play taps or reveille but not musical scale.

Some Jewish Rabbis say that blowing the Shofar is like a prayer without words. The Shofar is mentioned in the Bible about 70 times.
It is translated as: Trumpet and Coronet. The Hebrew word "Chatsotserah" is also translated as "Trumpet" and indicates the Silver Trumpets.
You may have to look in Strong´s Concordance or Young´s Analytical Concordance to see which Hebrew word is used.

The Shofar is made in a 4 step process:

Heat and pressure is used to make it more attractive.
The Grinding Wheel is used to grind and remove the rough exterior and reveal a beautiful texture and coloration.
A drill is used to open a path so air can flow through the horn.
The last step is polishing which turns it into a beautiful art object. The polishing smooths out the roughness left by the grinding process and brings a high glossy shine to the Shofar.
Some Messianic Jews feel there is some Spiritual qualities to this process:

God uses heat and pressure in our lives to help us grow. He does this through situations, trials and tests.

The grinding process reveals our inner beauty through God´s Holy Spirit. The drilled hole allows God´s breath to flow through us.
The polishing represents letting our light shine to bring glory to God.

The Shofar is probably the oldest musical instrument still in use today.
The ram´s horn might have been the first instrument played on earth.
The Father of all those who play the Lyre and Pipe was Jubal, a name related to the Hebrew word for ram Genesis 31:27.

To the Hebrew mind, horns were potent symbols

Not only did they symbolize physical power Deuteronomy 33:17. but the Holy Alters designed by God both the Sacrificial Alter and the Alter of Incense had horns Exodus 27:1,30:1.

The Lord Himself is the "Horn of Our Salvation" 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalms 18:2. Furthermore, each Shofar came from an animal suitable for God ordained Sacrifice.

In addition, Shofar Horns, carried the Divine Anointing Oil. 1 Samuel 16:1. Relative to most other instruments, an animal horn is Divinely made.
Horn blowing was a way of involving nature in Praise of the Creator. Psalms 150:3 says: Praise Him with the sound of the Trumpet Shofar.

There are five different occasions where the Shofar is used:

First, it is used at every joyful occasion

What could be more than a Wedding. Part of the answer for continued use of the rams horn is probably that despite musical limitations, rams horns were effective NOISE MAKERS.

In Jewish Weddings of Jesus´ day the Shofar was used when the Wedding Party got close to the Brides House, they gave a shout and blew the Shofar to let the Bride know her Bridegroom was coming.

The Second Occasion that the Shofar is used is to confuse our Enemies

Judges 7:1,16-22 states: Then Jerubbal that is Gideon and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the Valley.

16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a Trumpet Shofar into every man´s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers.

17 And he said to them, "Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do."

18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the Trumpets Shofar´s on every side of the whole camp, and say, "The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!"

19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the Trumpets Shofar´s and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.

20 Then the three companies blew the Trumpets Shofar´s and broke the pitchers; they held the torches in their left hands and the Trumpets Shofar´s in their right hands for blowing; and they cried, "The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!"

21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole Army ran and cried out and fled.

22 When the three hundred blew the Trumpets Shofar´s, the Lord set every mans sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the Army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.

The Third occasion that the Shofar is used is at the beginning of every Month

Psalms 81:3-4 New King James Version Blow the Trumpet Shofar at the time of the New Moon, At the Full Moon, on our Solemn Feast Day.

4 For this is a statue for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob.

The Fourth Occasion that the Shofar is used is to call a Sacred Assembly and a Solemn Fast

The Shofar is blown in the Synagogue on certain special occasions: at the New Year Feast of Trumpets, at the conclusion of the Day of Atonement, and on the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles. In the Temple, according to Josephus, calls were sounded on the Sabbath at it´s commencement on Friday evening and at it´s close.

Quote from Josephus in "The Wars of the Jews." One of the priests stood, and gave a signal beforehand, with a Trumpet Shofar, at the beginning of every seventh day, in the evening twilight, as also at the evening when the day was finished, as giving notice to the people when they were to leave off work, and when they were to go to work again.

Let´s look at the same scripture again for this point. Psalms 81:3-4: NKJV Blow the Trumpet Shofar at the time of the New Moon, At the Full Moon, on our Solemn Feast Day. For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob.

The Fifth Occasion that the Shofar is used is for the sound of War!

What was Jeremiah´s reaction when he heard the sound of the rams horn? Jeremiah 4:19-21 says: O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, Because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the Trumpet Shofar, The alarm of war.

20 Destruction upon destruction is cried, For the whole land is plundered. Suddenly my tents are plundered, And my curtains in a moment.

21 How long will I see the standard, And hear the sound of the Trumpet Shofar? The trumpet, or rams horn, was used as an alarm of war. It´s sound filled those who heard it with fear because they knew it signified that the horror of war was imminent!

It is this warning of an imminent crisis that sets apart the Feast of Trumpets from God´s other Holy Days. It is this warning of war that gives the joyous Feast of Trumpets its contrasting note of solemnity.

According to Jewish Tradition, the Shofar, was blown on the Feast of Trumpets, in addition to the Silver Trumpets. The Silver Trumpets could produce a variety of notes, but the Shofar produced only a piercing blast. See Numbers 10:1-10 for information on the Silver Trumpets.

The piercing blast of the Shofar is often referred to in the Bible as a SHOUT, or noise it did have a musical connotation but signified a warning. Like a fire alarm or and air raid siren.

The Feast of Trumpets is a day of gladness and great rejoicing, but it also has a contrasting note of solemnity to it. That is because of the Earth shaking events that will occur just before Christs return.

Last updated on September 15, 2005