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Urim and Thummim

/YOOR-im and THUM-im/

Summary

Sacred objects placed within the high priest's breastplate, used for obtaining divine guidance and decisions from God, though their exact nature remains mysterious.

☩Biblical Description

The Urim and Thummim were placed inside the breastplate of judgment, which was worn by the high priest when he entered before the Lord. They are first mentioned in Exodus as if already familiar to Moses and the people, never described but simply commanded to be placed with Aaron's sacred vestments. Moses was told to put them in the breastplate, and they were to be upon Aaron's heart when he went in before the Lord, bearing the judgment of the children of Israel continually.

Key verses:Exodus 28:30Leviticus 8:8

☩Function and Use

When Joshua was appointed as Moses' successor, he was instructed to stand before Eleazar the priest, who would inquire for him 'by the judgment of the Urim' before the Lord. The Urim and Thummim were used to determine God's will on matters of national significance—strategic military decisions, identification of guilt, and other questions requiring divine guidance. God sometimes withheld answers through the Urim, as when He refused to answer King Saul.

Key verses:Numbers 27:211 Samuel 28:6Judges 1:1Judges 20:18

☩Theories of Nature

The exact nature of the Urim and Thummim remains uncertain. Some ancient traditions identify them with the twelve stones of the breastplate, suggesting divine answers came through supernatural illumination of certain letters or gems. Others propose they were sacred lots, with one indicating an affirmative answer and the other negative. The words themselves mean 'lights' and 'perfections,' possibly indicating 'perfect illumination' or clear divine revelation.

Key verses:Deuteronomy 33:81 Samuel 14:41

☩Loss and Hope of Restoration

After the Babylonian exile, when certain priests could not prove their genealogy, they were excluded from priestly duties until a priest should arise with Urim and Thummim to determine their status. This passage indicates the Urim and Thummim had ceased to function and were longed for as a means of direct divine communication. Jewish tradition holds they were among the things lacking in the Second Temple.

Key verses:Ezra 2:63Nehemiah 7:65

Related Verses9 mentions

Judges· 2 verses

20:1820:23

Exodus· 1 verse

28:30

Leviticus· 1 verse

8:8

Numbers· 1 verse

27:21

See Also

Leaf from a Book of Hours: Presentation in the Temple with Roundels of the Casting of Lots, the Deposition, and Pietà (None, Office of the Virgin)
Casting Lots

References

  1. 1.George Morrish, "Urim and Thummim," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
  2. 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Urim and Thummim," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
  3. 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Urim and Thummim," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  4. 4.James Orr (ed.), "Urim and Thummim," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  5. 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Urim and Thummim," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
  6. 6.George Morrish, "Urim and Thummim," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
  7. 7.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Urim and Thummim," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
  8. 8.James Orr (ed.), "Urim and Thummim," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  9. 9.John McClintock and James Strong, "Urim and Thummim," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  10. 10.George Morrish, "Urim and Thummim," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
  11. 11.James Orr (ed.), "Urim and Thummim," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).