Nehemiah 7:65
The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about a missing piece of priestly equipment; it highlights a profound spiritual dilemma. Urim and Thummim were used to discern God's will, so their absence meant a crucial avenue for divine guidance was closed, leaving the community in a state of uncertain obedience regarding sacred matters. This points to a deep dependence on God's direct communication, even for matters of ritual practice.
Following a meticulous census and genealogical record of those who returned from exile, Nehemiah is now overseeing the re-establishment of Jerusalem and its religious practices. This verse highlights a specific challenge regarding the sacred food set aside for priests: a crucial priestly artifact, the Urim and Thummim, which was used to discern God's will, was missing, preventing the proper handling of these holy offerings until a legitimate priestly authority could be established.
Why would eating certain foods depend on a special priest? This verse points to a profound truth about how God's people should operate.
A Priest Apart
The Urim and Thummim were unique sacred objects kept in the high priest's breastpiece. They were divinely given tools, used to discern God's will in specific situations, almost like a direct line to heaven. Think of them as the ultimate spiritual compass.
When Certainty is Crucial
Nehemiah, acting as governor (the "Tirshatha"), declared that the priests couldn't partake in the most holy food—likely referring to portions of sacrifices set aside for them—until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim. This wasn't about picky eating; it was about ensuring that decisions, especially those related to sacred duties and resources, were made with clear, divine direction. It highlights that in matters of faith and service, we must wait for God's explicit word.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Nehemiah 7:65 is available in the Sola app.
Nehemiah was deeply concerned with who belonged to what family line. But this wasn't just about keeping records; it was about understanding God's faithfulness.
The Significance of Lineage
This chapter of Nehemiah is largely a census, a detailed genealogical record. While it seems mundane to us, for ancient Israel, lineage was crucial. It determined land rights, priestly duties, and ultimately, the fulfillment of God's promises through specific family lines.
God's Hand in the Return
Nehemiah wasn't just meticulously counting heads. He was tracing God's providential hand. He found the original register of those who first returned from exile, and he discovered that "my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy" (Nehemiah 7:5). This wasn't human initiative alone; it was God directing Nehemiah's heart to undertake this task.
This detailed accounting reinforced that the people present were indeed the descendants of those promised by God, linking their present reality to His ancient covenant faithfulness.
Understand the original words
tiršātāʾ · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the Tirshatha or the appointed leader of the returning exiles (in this context, Nehemiah), representing the Persian-sanctioned authority over the province of Yehud.
qōdeš · Hebrew Noun
Sacrificial portions or consecrated offerings designated for the priests, which were considered 'most holy' and strictly forbidden to anyone not authorized by the Law to consume.
ʾûrîm wətummîm · Hebrew Noun
Sacred objects used by the High Priest to discern the will of God, specifically regarding ambiguous or difficult decisions. They represent the direct, revelatory guidance of Yahweh for His people.
The instruction that sacred food could not be eaten until a priest with Urim and Thummim arose highlights a profound longing for divine guidance that was lost after the Babylonian exile. The absence of these sacred objects meant that definitive, direct instruction from God on such matters was no longer possible.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Journey and Tabernacle Construction
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites received instructions from God to build the Tabernacle and establish the Levitical priesthood. The Urim and Thummim were placed in the breastplate of the High Priest, to be used for discerning God's will.
c. 1000 BC
Temple of Solomon Inaugurated
King David and later Solomon established the Ark of the Covenant in the First Temple in Jerusalem, which became the central place of worship. The priesthood and the use of the Urim and Thummim continued in this sacred context.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled a large portion of the population. This marked the end of the Davidic monarchy and the loss of the Urim and Thummim, as the sacred objects were likely taken or lost.
538 BC
Return of Exiles to Judah
Under Cyrus the Great of Persia, some Jewish exiles were permitted to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple and the city. However, the Urim and Thummim were not present with them.
c. 444 BC— this verse
Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, received permission to return to Jerusalem and oversee the rebuilding of its walls. He also initiated a census and administrative reforms to re-establish order among the returned people.
This passage describes the Urim and Thummim, mysterious objects placed within the High Priest's breastpiece, meant to reveal God's will when consulted. Nehemiah's mention of them points to the ultimate authority of God's guidance for His people.
1 Samuel 14:41Here, Saul and Jonathan seek God's direction regarding a potential battle, and the Urim and Thummim are consulted to determine guilt or innocence. This highlights their role in discerning God's favor and judgment, which is echoed in Nehemiah's concern for proper practice.
Ezra 2:63This verse from Ezra, a precursor to Nehemiah's account, also mentions that the people could not establish their priestly lineage without the Urim and Thummim. It shows a consistent reliance on this divine method for establishing legitimacy and purity in worship.
Numbers 27:21Moses is instructed to stand before Eleazar the priest, who would inquire for him 'by the judgment of the Urim' to determine God's direction for the community. This establishes the Urim and Thummim as a crucial means for priestly leadership to seek and relay God's commands to the people.
cambridgeNehemiah 7:65: "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 Thummim."
65 . the Tirshatha ] R.V. marg. Or, governor . a priest ] Literally ‘the priest.’ ‘With Urim and Thummim.’ LXX. ὁ ἱερεὺς φωτίσων . Vulg. ‘sacerdos doctus et eruditus.’
henryNehemiah 7:5-73: "And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,"
7:5-73 Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must…
This isn't just about a missing piece of priestly equipment; it highlights a profound spiritual dilemma. Urim and Thummim were used to discern God's will, so their absence meant a crucial avenue for divine guidance was closed, leaving the community in a state of uncertain obedience regarding sacred matters. This points to a deep dependence on God's direct communication, even for matters of ritual practice.
Following a meticulous census and genealogical record of those who returned from exile, Nehemiah is now overseeing the re-establishment of Jerusalem and its religious practices. This verse highlights a specific challenge regarding the sacred food set aside for priests: a crucial priestly artifact, the Urim and Thummim, which was used to discern God's will, was missing, preventing the proper handling of these holy offerings until a legitimate priestly authority could be established.
Following a meticulous census and genealogical record of those who returned from exile, Nehemiah is now overseeing the re-establishment of Jerusalem and its religious practices. This verse highlights a specific challenge regarding the sacred food set aside for priests: a crucial priestly artifact, the Urim and Thummim, which was used to discern God's will, was missing, preventing the proper handling of these holy offerings until a legitimate priestly authority could be established.
"The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise." — This isn't just about a missing piece of priestly equipment; it highlights a profound spiritual dilemma. Urim and Thummim were used to discern God's will, so their absence meant a crucial avenue for…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
