Daily Mitzvah (Rambam)

The 59th mitzvah is that we are commanded to sound the trumpets in the Holy Temple when offering any of the periodic1 sacrifices.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "And on the day of your rejoicing, on your festivals and on your Rosh Chodesh days, you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt-offerings."

Our Sages have explicitly stated3 that [on a fast day, the sounds of the trumpet last longer than the sounds of the shofar4 because] "the main mitzvah of this day is that of the trumpets."5

The details of this mitzvah are explained in the Sifri,6 in Rosh Hashanah,7 and in Taanis.8

Since we are [also] commanded to sound the trumpets when we cry out to G‑d (exalted be He) during a time of trouble and distress, the verse9 says, "When you go to war against an enemy who attacks you in your land, [you shall sound the trumpets]."

Footnotes

1.

I.e., those brought on holidays and Rosh Chodesh. See Hilchos Klei Hamikdosh 3:5.

2.

Num. 10:10.

3.

Rosh Hashanah, Ch.3, Mishneh 4 (26b).

4.

Unlike Rosh Hashanah, when the shofar lasts longer.

5.

Perhaps the Rambam's goal in quoting this passage is to point out the expression, "main mitzvah" (mitzvas hayom), which shows that blowing the trumpet counts as one of the 613 mitzvos.

Although this statement refers to blowing the trumpets on a fast day, nevertheless it can be applied here, since the Rambam counts them as one and the same mitzvah.

6.

Parshas B'haaloscha.

7.

See note above.

8.

15a.

9.

Num. 10:9.