The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prohibition here isn't just about food; it highlights a profound longing for direct divine guidance. By deferring the decision about these priests until Urim and Thummim could be consulted, the governor reveals that in the absence of clear divine instruction, even priestly claims based on lineage must remain unconfirmed. This points to a deep awareness that true spiritual authority requires God's own stamp of approval, a reality that echoes into our own lives when we seek to discern God's will.
The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes at the end of a long list of families returning to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. The governor, known as the Tirshatha, is addressing some priests whose lineage cannot be definitively proven. Because they can't be certain these individuals are legitimate priests, he prohibits them from eating the sacred portions of offerings until a priest can consult the Urim and Thummim. This ancient method of divine inquiry, used to determine matters of priestly authority, was apparently unavailable at this time, leaving their status uncertain.
Who was this 'Tirshatha,' and why did his word carry such weight?
The 'Tirshatha' was the Persian title for the governor of Judah, a high-ranking official likely appointed by the Persian Empire. In this context, the Tirshatha is identified with Zerubbabel, a descendant of David and a key leader in the return from exile. His authority wasn't just political; it was also spiritual in this situation. He held the power to enforce the sacred laws of the temple and its offerings, ensuring the purity and integrity of the restored community. His word here is decisive, halting those who claimed priestly lineage until their legitimacy could be divinely confirmed.
What were Urim and Thummim, and why was their absence so significant?
Urim and Thummim were sacred objects, likely within the High Priest's breastplate, used to discern God's will. They represented a direct line of divine communication, a way for God to speak His judgments and truths. The text reveals that after the exile, a priest with Urim and Thummim was no longer available. This loss was deeply felt, signifying a diminished capacity for direct divine revelation. The Tirshatha's decree indicates that without this divine confirmation, certain priestly claims and privileges, like eating the most holy food, could not be granted. It points to a time when God's guidance, though still sought, was not as overtly manifest as before.
Ask a follow-up
Why such a strict rule about eating 'most holy things'?
The 'most holy things' refer to specific portions of temple offerings, like sin offerings and meal offerings, which were exclusively for priests who were ritually clean and properly consecrated. This verse highlights the critical importance of lineage and ritual purity for those serving in priestly roles. Those claiming to be priests but whose lineage couldn't be verified through the proper channels (or ultimately, through divine confirmation) were forbidden from partaking. This wasn't about starving them; it was about maintaining the sanctity of the priesthood and the offerings. It underscores that God's service demands authenticity and adherence to His established order, especially when returning to rebuild His house and worship.
Understand the original words
pechah · Hebrew Noun
The administrative leader or official appointed by a foreign power (such as Persia) to oversee the affairs of a province or the returned exiles.
qodesh qodashim · Hebrew Noun phrase
The most sacred portions of the sacrifices and offerings brought to the temple, reserved exclusively for those consecrated to eat them.
Urim ve-Tummim · Hebrew Noun phrase
Sacred objects used by the High Priest to discern the will of God, representing a direct, divinely sanctioned method of seeking guidance.
The absence of the Urim and Thummim highlights the diminished divine guidance available during the Second Temple period, forcing leaders like Zerubbabel to make difficult decisions based on available evidence and wait for future revelation.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport many of the leading citizens. This event marks the loss of the Ark of the Covenant and, according to tradition, the Urim and Thummim.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree
King Cyrus of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period.
c. 536 BC
Return of Exiles and Temple Foundation
The first wave of exiles, led by Zerubbabel, returns to Jerusalem and lays the foundation for the Second Temple. Many priests and Levites are among them.
c. 515 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The Second Temple is completed, but it lacks some of the glories of Solomon's Temple, such as the Ark and, crucially, the Urim and Thummim.
c. 445-433 BC
Nehemiah's Governorship
Nehemiah, likely holding the title 'Tirshatha', serves as governor and oversees the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. He deals with issues of priestly lineage.
c. 430 BC— this verse
Priestly Lineage Disputes
The passage in Ezra 2:63 reflects ongoing disputes about priestly legitimacy following the return from exile. Some families cannot prove their lineage, and the governor (the Tirshatha) defers judgment.
This passage describes the Urim and Thummim as being placed in the breastpiece of the high priest, establishing their purpose as a means for divine inquiry and revelation.
Numbers 27:21This verse directly links the Urim and Thummim to seeking God's judgment through the high priest, highlighting their authoritative role in decision-making for the community.
1 Samuel 28:6This passage illustrates the consequence of God withholding answers through the Urim and Thummim, showing that their function was dependent on God's willingness to communicate.
Nehemiah 7:65This passage is a parallel account, also mentioning the prohibition of eating most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise, reinforcing the significance of this divine consultation.
1 Corinthians 1:30While not mentioning Urim and Thummim directly, this passage speaks of Christ as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, pointing to a greater and final divine authority and source of truth than the ancient Urim and Thummim.
henryEzra 2:36-63: "The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three."
2:36-63 Those who undervalue their relation to the Lord in times of reproach, persecution, or distress, will have no benefit from it when it becomes honourable or profitable. Those who have no evidence that they are, by the new birth, spiritual priests unto God, through Jesus Christ, have no right to the comforts and privileges of Christians.
clarkeEzra 2:63: "And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim."
The Tirshatha - This is generally supposed to be Nehemiah, or the person who was the commandant; see Nehemiah 8:9 ; Nehemiah 10:1 , for the word appears to be the name of an office. The Vulgate and Septuagint write it Atershatha, the Syriac and Arabic render it the princes of Judah. Some suppose the word to be Persian, but nothing like it of t…
The prohibition here isn't just about food; it highlights a profound longing for direct divine guidance. By deferring the decision about these priests until Urim and Thummim could be consulted, the governor reveals that in the absence of clear divine instruction, even priestly claims based on lineage must remain unconfirmed. This points to a deep awareness that true spiritual authority requires God's own stamp of approval, a reality that echoes into our own lives when we seek to discern God's will.
This verse comes at the end of a long list of families returning to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. The governor, known as the Tirshatha, is addressing some priests whose lineage cannot be definitively proven. Because they can't be certain these individuals are legitimate priests, he prohibits them from eating the sacred portions of offerings until a priest can consult the Urim and Thummim. This ancient method of divine inquiry, used to determine matters of priestly authority, was apparently unavailable at this time, leaving their status uncertain.
This verse comes at the end of a long list of families returning to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. The governor, known as the Tirshatha, is addressing some priests whose lineage cannot be definitively proven. Because they can't be certain these individuals are legitimate priests, he prohibits them from eating the sacred portions of offerings until a priest can consult the Urim and Thummim. This ancient method of divine inquiry, used to determine matters of priestly authority, was apparently unavailable at this time, leaving their status uncertain.
"The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim." — The prohibition here isn't just about food; it highlights a profound longing for direct divine guidance. By deferring the decision about these priests until Urim and Thummim could be consulted, the g…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026