The rising melody of praise builds to a powerful climax, culminating in a massive blast of wind instruments to prepare for God's arrival [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This grand display mirrors the traditional practice of sounding horns as a sign of honor to welcome an arriving earthly king [אבן עזרא]. The trumpets, identifying the simple physical instruments [מצודת ציון], join together with the shofar to create this resounding blast. In a practical sense, the call to sound these horns before God was an invitation to come to the Temple, the specific place where people would play music, sound the horns, and offer praise before Him [רד״ק].
According to Jewish tradition, playing these two instruments simultaneously was a highly exclusive practice. Blowing the trumpets and the shofar at the exact same time was reserved strictly for the Temple Mount and the Temple itself, as it was the only place considered truly in the presence of the King. In all other locations, people would sound only one of the instruments, never both at once [תורה תמימה].
Beyond the musical and historical details, this unique combination of instruments carries a deep message about the future judgment of the world. The pairing of the two horns reflects the blending of two distinct ways God interacts with humanity, matching the two divine roles referenced in this context. The role of a king represents strict justice, much like the period of the Jewish New Year when God rules and judges the earth. In contrast, His holy name represents compassion and mercy. The instruments mirror this dynamic: the trumpets symbolize joy and mercy, while the shofar represents submission and strict justice.
The precise description, which highlights the distinct sound of the shofar rather than merely listing the two instruments together, points to a specific Temple custom. The trumpet blast was intentionally kept short, while the shofar blast was drawn out, meaning the sound of the shofar lingered in the air after the trumpets had faded. This musical arrangement carries a profound lesson for the time when God will judge the earth. It demonstrates that through the ultimate submission of the nations, strict justice will seamlessly merge with divine mercy, ultimately removing all anger from the world [אלשיך].