Ezra 2:63
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)
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This verse reveals a profound tension: the governor restricts priests from their sacred food, not because they're unqualified by lineage, but because the divinely appointed method for confirming their identity—Urim and Thummim—is missing. This highlights a dependency not just on established tradition, but on a direct, observable connection with God for full priestly function. It underscores that even amidst rebuilding, the people are waiting for a return of God's clear, undeniable presence to validate their sacred roles.
This verse appears in the context of the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple. Following a detailed census of those who returned, the list includes numerous priestly families. However, some individuals couldn't prove their lineage, leading the governor, known as the "Tirshatha," to decree that they must wait for divine confirmation through the Urim and Thummim before partaking in sacred temple food. This highlights the critical importance of established priestly lineage and direct divine consultation in maintaining the purity and authority of worship.
Who was this 'Tirshatha' giving orders to priests? It wasn't just any governor, but a leader tasked with re-establishing God's order.
The title 'Tirshatha' likely comes from a Persian word meaning 'the feared' or 'the one who inspires awe.' This was a significant administrative role, possibly equivalent to a governor. Here, it refers to Zerubbabel, who was leading the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the temple. His authority was crucial in upholding the sanctity of priestly duties and ensuring only those legitimately qualified could access the sacred provisions.
Think of it like this: Zerubbabel wasn't just a politician; he was God's appointed leader for a critical time. His decisions carried spiritual weight because they directly impacted the worship and order of God's people.
Why were some priests barred from their sacred food? It hinged on a divine communication tool that had gone silent.
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The Urim and Thummim were ancient artifacts, likely kept in the High Priest's breastplate, used to discern God's will. They were a direct line for God's people to receive specific divine guidance, especially when facing complex decisions or verifying legitimacy.
In Ezra's time, after the Babylonian exile, the Urim and Thummim were lost. This created a crisis for priestly families whose lineage records were unclear. Without this divine oracle, their right to serve and eat of the 'most holy things'—sacred portions of offerings reserved for priests—was in doubt. The Tirshatha's decree meant that until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim (which was now impossible), these uncertain individuals were excluded from their rightful priestly portions.
This verse isn't just about food rules; it's a profound statement about the integrity required for approaching a holy God.
The prohibition against eating 'most holy things' for those whose priestly status was uncertain underscores a fundamental principle: holiness requires certainty and purity. These sacred foods were set apart for God's service and for those specifically consecrated and qualified.
The lack of Urim and Thummim meant there was no clear divine confirmation for certain individuals claiming priestly lineage. Zerubbabel’s ruling was a way to maintain the sanctity of the temple service. It upheld the standard that access to holy things is a privilege granted by God, not a right earned by mere claim. This situation also served as a powerful reminder to the people of their dependence on God's direct communication and the eventual hope for a greater High Priest who would bring perfect clarity and access.
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.
This verse highlights a critical moment during the return from exile. The absence of the Urim and Thummim, lost during the Babylonian destruction, meant that challenging questions of priestly lineage and status could not be divinely resolved, creating a period of uncertainty and exclusion until a priest with this lost artifact could be found.
c. 587 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem, and raze the First Temple. This event marks the loss of the Ark of the Covenant, the Urim and Thummim, and other sacred elements.
538 BC
Cyrus the Great's Decree
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the beginning of the post-exilic period.
c. 537-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Under leaders like Zerubbabel, the returning exiles begin the arduous task of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 444 BC
Nehemiah's Reforms and Governorship
Nehemiah, serving as governor, oversees significant social and religious reforms in Jerusalem, including the reconstruction of the city walls. He is also referred to as the 'Tirshatha'.
c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra's Commission and Return
Ezra, a scribe and priest, receives a commission from the Persian king to return to Jerusalem and restore the Law, leading a group of returnees.
This passage describes the Urim and Thummim as being placed in the breastpiece of the high priest, establishing their divine purpose for seeking God's guidance.
Numbers 27:21Here, Joshua is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him 'by the judgment of the Urim,' highlighting its role in authorizing leadership and direction.
1 Samuel 28:6This verse reveals that when Saul sought guidance, 'the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets,' underscoring the significance and absence of divine response when this oracle was unavailable.
Nehemiah 7:65This parallel account in Nehemiah reiterates the same prohibition and condition, showing that the issue of uncertain priestly lineage and the need for divine confirmation persisted even after Ezra's time.
Haggai 2:11-13These verses speak to the uncleanness of the people and how it affected the sanctity of offerings, paralleling the concern in Ezra about priestly status and the purity required for sacred functions.
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…
This verse reveals a profound tension: the governor restricts priests from their sacred food, not because they're unqualified by lineage, but because the divinely appointed method for confirming their identity—Urim and Thummim—is missing. This highlights a dependency not just on established tradition, but on a direct, observable connection with God for full priestly function. It underscores that even amidst rebuilding, the people are waiting for a return of God's clear, undeniable presence to validate their sacred roles.
This verse appears in the context of the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple. Following a detailed census of those who returned, the list includes numerous priestly families. However, some individuals couldn't prove their lineage, leading the governor, known as the "Tirshatha," to decree that they must wait for divine confirmation through the Urim and Thummim before partaking in sacred temple food. This highlights the critical importance of established priestly lineage and direct divine consultation in maintaining the purity and authority of worship.
This verse appears in the context of the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple. Following a detailed census of those who returned, the list includes numerous priestly families. However, some individuals couldn't prove their lineage, leading the governor, known as the "Tirshatha," to decree that they must wait for divine confirmation through the Urim and Thummim before partaking in sacred temple food. This highlights the critical importance of established priestly lineage and direct divine consultation in maintaining the purity and authority of worship.
"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." — This verse reveals a profound tension: the governor restricts priests from their sacred food, not because they're unqualified by lineage, but because the divinely appointed method for confirming thei…
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