The table below presents two contradictory verses. Both verses talk about congregating the nation The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse says blast the trumpets to gather the nation while the other verse says the nation was gathered, but no trumpet blasts were mentioned. Which is it? Are trumpet blasts used to gather the nation or not? Rashi simply resolves this using the 2 aspects method: The Trumpets were Moses' personal trumpets. 1) So Moses used the trumpets when he congregated the nation 2) But Joshua (and future leaders) did not congregate the nation in this way The exclusivity of trumpet blasts for Moses is indicated explicitly in Nu10-02 which states Make 2, personal, silver trumpets ....They are designated personally to you for congregating the nation and moving the camp.

Summary	Verse / Source	Text of verse / Source
Use Trumpets to gather the nation	Nu10-02	Make two personal silver trumpets; make them sculptured; designate them for personal congregation of the nation and moving the camp
Under Joshua's leadership the nation was gathered without trumpets	Dt31-23:28a	And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage; for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land which I swore to them; .... while I am still alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death!.... Congregate to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
Resolution:	2 Aspects	The Trumpets were Moses' personal trumpets. 1) So Moses used the trumpets when he congregated the nation 2) But Joshua (and future leaders) did not congregate the nation in this way The exclusivity of trumpets blasts for Moses is indicated explicitly in Nu10-02 which states Make 2, personal, silver trumpets ....They are designated personally to you for congregating the nation and moving the camp.

Advanced Rashi: Rashi points out that Technically Moses was still alive, still exhorting the people and still in charge. But once he had appointed Joshua he stopped using the trumpets. Rashi further explains Moses' actions by pointing out that he was anticipating death as shown in the above citation. Rashi cites the verse Ec08-08 There is no reign on the day of death. I have added a further defense to Rashi's observation that Moses exclusively used the trumpets to congregate the nation: We never find other leaders such as Samuel using trumpets to congregate the nation (cf. 1S11-14, 1S12-01).