God’s Appointed Feasts – The Day of Trumpets
In the seventh month called “Tishri” on the Hebrew calendar, there are three of God’s Appointed Feasts. The first is The Day of Trumpets, Yom Teruah, on the first of the seventh month. Teruah can mean “blowing shofars” or “loud soundings”, also with voices and other instruments.
On the Jewish calendar, the Day of Trumpets is celebrated as Rosh Hashanah, meaning the head or the start of the Jewish Civil New Year. In 2026 the first of the seventh month starts at sundown on Friday the 11th of September, and ends at sundown on Saturday the 12th of September.
The Jewish Civil New Year is not mentioned in the Bible. However, the seventh year Sabbath rest of the land, and the Year of Jubilee, after seven cycles of seventh year Sabbath rests of the land, does start in the seventh month.
THE SABBATH OF THE SEVENTH YEAR SCRIPTURE
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.’ ”
Leviticus 25:2-4 NKJV
40 DAYS OF REPENTANCE
A Jewish tradition which is not mentioned in the Bible is the 40 days of repentance and teshuvah, “turning back to God”. It starts from the beginning of the sixth Hebrew month, Elul, to the Day of Atonement, on the tenth of the seventh month. In 2026 Elul started on the 12th of August.
SCRIPTURES ON YOM TERUAH
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.’ ”
Leviticus 23:24-25 NKJV
“And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.” Numbers 29:1 NKJV
HOW TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
We haven’t got much information about the Day of Trumpets, apart from remembering, and blowing shofars, making loud sounds. It is a day of rest. We can remember and discuss the mighty deeds of God , and His promises that will still be fulfilled. We can read Scriptures about blowing of trumpets and shofars. It has, for example, been an awakening call or a warning call, or the announcing of a king. We can worship and praise God and blow shofars.
written by Enone Smit