The Hebrew word for trumpet. In biblical times these were made from the horns of ram and similar animals. Synonyms include yobel and chatsotsra. In modern usage, the shofar is almost always understood as a ram's horn, rather than a trumpet.
The shofar played a very important role in the liturgical practices of ancient Israel. It was used to signal Israel to approach God at Mount Sinai (Exo 19:16, 19; 20:18). It also commemorated the first day of the seventh month (Lev 23:24), as well as heralding in the celebration of the new moon, the new year, the year of Jubilee, etc (Lev 25:9; Psm 81:3) and in worship (Psm 98:6; 150:3; 1 Chron 16:6; 2 Chron 5:12). The shofar was, of course, also used to summon troops and signal for battle (Judg 3:27; 2 Sam 20:1). Famously, it was the blasts of the shofar that brought the walls of Jericho crashing down (Jos 6). It was the instrument for the declaration of a new king (1 Ki 1:34, 41; 2 Ki 9:13).
Today many churches use the shofar as a call to worship. There is no certainty, however, that the manner in which it is thus used reflects any of the reality of ancient Israel.
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