When Anna Jansz joined the Anabaptist cause, she joined a new community—one that was defined not by geography, traditions, or family ties, but by a shared commitment to religious revolution. As such, it lacked many of the features that gave established communities a sense of cohesion and stability. Its members were spread out across northern Europe. It had no clear institutional structures or universally acknowledged leaders. Nevertheless, because this was also a community at war, it was critical that its members find ways to connect to one another, declare their shared goals, and give each other the courage to carry on the fight. Consider these issues as you read the lyrics of Anna Jansz’s “Trumpet Song.” What was Jansz’s message to her fellow believers and to the community at large? What might explain her decision to express herself in song and not in some other form?

I hear the Trumpet sounding,

From far off I hear her blast!

In Jerusalem, Edom, in Bashan,

The heralds cry high and low,

To me their sound brings this to mind:

“Prepare yourselves for the wedding feast,

All you who love the King!

The Gate is open, enter in!

Mt 22:11

Adorn yourselves, don your Wedding finery!”

O Zion, God’s special chosen,

Have you not heard her voice?

Do not disobey willfully,

But accept the Word of the Lord.

You have been granted mercy,

Make good use of it, you’re being warned!

Quick, hurry, get on your way,

Rev 18:10

Before you, with Babylon together are slain—

Make haste, make haste, do not delay!

Ezek 9:4

The sign of Thau has been given you,

Rev 7:3

The one in Ezekiel, chapter nine:

The Lord’s servants are now being marked,

By those who fulfil the Lord’s decree.

2 Es 2:40

Oh Zion, conclude the list of transfigured!

Your number will soon be complete,

Rev 12:11 (?)

By them whose lives did not weigh heavy,

Rev 6:9 (?)

Having been redeemed from the Earth,

The lamb has paid their debt for them.

Gen 35:21

O Tower of Eder, chosen, elected,

O gilded Rose, come now with power!

Now is the time to lift up your heads,

So that you expect the coming of the Lord!

Why would you want to belong to another

When that would mean you would lose the King?

Is 26:17

The sharpest pain has overwhelmed you,

And caused you to be just as fearful

a woman who in childbirth labors.

Mic 4:13

Arise, O Zion, gird your loins,

Prepare yourself for battle.

Mt 7:13

You must set out on that narrow path,

A single footstep is its width.

Its entrance lies in humbling yourself,

Where your inheritance you’ll receive;

Do not fear—though you may be frail—

2 Es 11

The eagle with its mighty wings;

He will strike you with his claws.

Rev 12:3

The dragon has come upon the Earth,

And is consumed with fury great.

For the Woman who had borne the Man-child

Has been robbed from him, therefore he goes into battle

To make war against her seed.

But be of good cheer and doubt ye not!

Our Guide will soon come to judge,

Jude 14

To sit in judgement with his servants;

He will deliver them from every sorrow.

Is 52:8, 62:6

O, watchers on the gates of Zion!

Methinks that sword is now prepared:

Let your Trumpets sound once more,

Should yet any be sleeping in Zion,

So that they might awaken

Eph 5:14

And arise up from their sleep;

So that they cannot plead innocence

When the Lord comes to wreak vengeance—

He will smite the obstinately rebellious!

O, evil nature, you refuse to hear!

You protest your innocence, all in the same way.

Ezek 33:3

The Watchmen have warned you well in advance,

You draw nigh to death so wretched;

You joke about the peace of God,

But your blood will be upon your heads!

The Keeper goes to close the gates,

And you will be left outside, excluded,

Because you refuse to believe the truth.

O Murderous seed, what will you do?

Gen 4:8

Offspring of Cain, you put to death

The Lambs of the Lord, without just cause—

Rev 18:6

It will be doubly repaid to you!

Rev 6:8

Death now comes riding on horseback,

We have seen your fate!

The Sword is passing over the land

With which you will be killed and slain,

And you will not escape from Hell!

Rev 14:15

The time has now come to reap,

2 Es 5:2

For evil has gained the upper hand.

There’s hardly a space for the sowing,

Mt 13:25

For weeds have engulfed the entire Land.

The Summer will soon be past,

I hear the Trumpets piping.

The mockers despise the peace;

’Tis time to tread the winepress,

Jl 3:13

Whet your scythes, the Harvest is ripe!

God will prepare a feast for carrion birds

In Bozrah and Edom, as I have read,

Rev 19:18

Of flesh of Kings and Princes both.

Make haste, you winged ones, sate yourselves feverishly,

Feed on the flesh of the rulers of the Land!

As they have done, so will be done to them!

You servants of the Lord, be strong in spirit!

The Birds become sated with their blood:

This reward shall our predators receive.

Rev 18:20

Now rejoice and be exultant,

Play on your Harps a new song!

In our God be jubilant

All of you who witness this revenge!

The Lord will come to repay,

To avenge the blood of us all.

His wrath is descending,

Rev 1:15

We await the bowls of final wrath,

Mt 25:6

O bride, go out to meet your bridegroom!

Is 52:1

Arise, Jerusalem, and will yourself prepare!

Receive your promise, behold your Kingdom;

Is 54:2

Spread out wide the circle of your Tents,

Receive your children, all of them in equal measure.

Your King is coming to set you free;

Is 62:1

His reward he brings before him, for all to see,

He will rejoice himself in you!

Praise him for this eternally,

Rejoice, O Zion, with Jerusalem so perfect!

Source: Hermina Joldersma and Louis Grijp, eds., “Elisabeth’s Manly Courage”: Testimonials and Songs of Martyred Anabaptist Women in the Low Countries (Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 2001), pp. 59, 61, 63, 65.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER