Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

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Clouds and Trumpets

On the day the Mishkan was set up, a cloud covered it and in the evening it had a fiery type appearance until morning.

The Israelites journeyed according to the "word of G-d" and the cloud would move in sync with their journeys as such:

When the Israelites were about to journey, they would blow long, short and then long blasts on trumpets. Then Moshe would declare "Rise up G-d", after which the cloud would fold up (from being extended over them like shelter) and then extend over the tribe of Yehudah like a beam. And then Yehudah would begin to journey.

The time of their encampments (and thus the time the cloud lingered upon them sheltering them) varied from one evening to many days or evening months.

G-d tells Moshe to make two silver trumpets to summon the assembly when it was time to call everyone to journey.

These trumpets were to be blasted in the manner that trumpets are blasted before a king (some commentators interpret the "king" to be Moshe however Rashi understands the king to be G-d).

Moshe was not to make these trumpets from public funds but rather from his own money. These trumpets may not be used by anyone other than Moshe and Moshe was forbidden from making any similar trumpets for the purpose of gathering the Israelites.

These trumpets were to be made from a solid block of silver beaten out with a hammer.

The Kohanim are to blow the trumpets.

When they make a long blast with both of the trumpets this is a sign that all of the Israelites are to gather to Moshe at the entrance of the Ohel Moed.

If they sound a long blast with one of them, only the princes are to gather to Moshe.

If they sound long blasts, followed by shot blasts, followed by long blasts, this is a sign that the Israelites should journey, beginning with the camp that is in the east.

When they rise up to fight an enemy who is oppressing them, they are to sound short blasts and G-d will remember them and save them from their enemies.

On festivals and new moons the trumpets should be sounded while sacrificing communal Olah and peace offerings and these will serve as a remembrance for G-d. This section is the origin of the "Malchios" blessings in the Rosh Hashana (and Yom Kippur of the Yovel year).