"Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps."
The Ohr Hachaim asks multiple questions.
- Why were these trumpets necessary? Klal Yisroel could look at the cloud of glory over the mishkan, when they rose from the mishkan, that was a sign that they should leave. What purpose did the trumpets serve?
The Ohr Hachaim suggests that they did not all travel at once, as Yehuda went first, then the family of Gershon etc.. They needed to be told, through the voice of the trumpet, that their time had come.
- Why does the Torah say to make them for you? How were these trumpets of Moshe Rabbeinu?
The possuk later says that the cloud of glory would not lift up until Moshe Rabbeinu announced קוּמָה ה' וְיָפֻצוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ וְיָנֻסוּ מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ מִפָנֶיךָ – arise Hashem and your enemies shall disperse and your haters shall escape from in front of you. Only then was the cloud ready to go.
These trumpets were for Moshe alone; he was the one to use them before announcing to the clouds that they should leave. This was a special honor for Moshe Rabenu, and nobody else could use them. After Moshe’s passing, they were placed in storage forever.
