Exodus 28:30
And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Urim and Thummim weren't just random trinkets; they were placed directly "on Aaron's heart," signifying that divine guidance was meant to be carried personally and with deep consideration. This highlights that seeking God's will wasn't merely an external ritual but a matter of the high priest's inner counsel and burden before the Lord.
This passage describes the final piece of the high priest's ceremonial attire: the breastplate of judgment, which contained the mysterious "Urim and Thummim." These were placed on Aaron's heart, symbolizing that he would regularly carry the people's concerns and God's divine decisions before the Lord. The instructions for creating this sacred vestment and its specific components, like the jewel-laden breastplate, are detailed just before this verse.
What were these 'Urim and Thummim'? The Bible doesn't explicitly describe them, leaving us to ponder their nature.
What Were the Urim and Thummim?
The exact nature of the Urim and Thummim remains a profound mystery. While the text doesn't offer a detailed description, the names themselves offer clues:
Scholars have debated for centuries whether they were stones, inscribed objects, or even divine symbols. What's clear is their purpose: to help the High Priest ascertain God's will.
A Divine Oracle
These were not ordinary items but a divine mechanism for seeking God's judgment. The High Priest, bearing the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim, would approach the LORD for guidance on crucial matters affecting the nation of Israel. This established a direct line of communication, ensuring that national decisions were aligned with God's will.
Why was the breastplate, with its sacred contents, placed so close to the High Priest's heart?
A Symbol of Intimacy and Responsibility
The placement of the Urim and Thummim 'upon Aaron's heart' was deeply symbolic. It wasn't just about carrying an object; it represented carrying the weight and concerns of the entire nation before God.
Understand the original words
Urim ve-Thummim · Hebrew Noun
Sacred objects used by the High Priest to discern the will of God; they represent the light of divine revelation and the perfection of God's truth.
This passage describes the Urim and Thummim being used to determine guilt when Saul asks God to reveal the source of a problem, highlighting their role in discerning God's judgment.
Numbers 27:21Here, Joshua is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire of the LORD using the Urim, demonstrating the Urim and Thummim as a means for seeking divine guidance for leadership decisions.
Deuteronomy 33:8In Moses' blessing of the tribes, the Urim and Thummim are specifically associated with Levi, the priestly tribe, underscoring their connection to the priestly function of mediating God's will.
1 Samuel 28:6This verse mentions that the LORD did not answer Saul by Urim, dreams, or prophets, indicating that the Urim was a recognized channel through which God communicated His will, alongside other prophetic means.
Ezra 2:63The mention of priests not being able to prove their lineage because the Urim and Thummim were lost suggests their importance and a tangible connection to the legitimacy of the priesthood after the exile.
clarkeExodus 28:30: "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually."
Thou shalt put in the breastplate - the Urim and the Thummim - What these were has, I believe, never yet been discovered. 1. They are nowhere described. 2. There is no direction given to Moses or any other how to make them. 3. What…
calvinExodus 28:1-43: "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Tu vero accerse ad to Aharonem fratre…
The Urim and Thummim weren't just random trinkets; they were placed directly "on Aaron's heart," signifying that divine guidance was meant to be carried personally and with deep consideration. This highlights that seeking God's will wasn't merely an external ritual but a matter of the high priest's inner counsel and burden before the Lord.
This passage describes the final piece of the high priest's ceremonial attire: the breastplate of judgment, which contained the mysterious "Urim and Thummim." These were placed on Aaron's heart, symbolizing that he would regularly carry the people's concerns and God's divine decisions before the Lord. The instructions for creating this sacred vestment and its specific components, like the jewel-laden breastplate, are detailed just before this verse.
This passage describes the final piece of the high priest's ceremonial attire: the breastplate of judgment, which contained the mysterious "Urim and Thummim." These were placed on Aaron's heart, symbolizing that he would regularly carry the people's concerns and God's divine decisions before the Lord. The instructions for creating this sacred vestment and its specific components, like the jewel-laden breastplate, are detailed just before this verse.
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"And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regular…" — The Urim and Thummim weren't just random trinkets; they were placed directly "on Aaron's heart," signifying that divine guidance was meant to be carried personally and with deep consideration. This h…
