The Urim and Thummim are mentioned in connection with the high priest’s garments and function in seeking God’s guidance. They are first introduced in Exodus 28:30: “And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord.” The names mean “lights” and “perfections,” though the exact method of their use is not described in Scripture.
The Urim and Thummim were placed inside the breastplate of judgment worn by the high priest. They were used to discern the Lord’s will in matters of national importance, especially when direct revelation was needed. They are mentioned as part of the high priest’s attire in Leviticus 8:8 and Numbers 27:21.
In Numbers 27:21, God commanded that Joshua, Moses’ successor, should stand before Eleazar the priest, “who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim.” This indicates that the Urim was a recognized method of receiving God’s direction for leadership and decisions.
In 1 Samuel 28:6, King Saul inquired of the Lord, but God did not answer him, “neither by dreams nor by Urim nor by prophets.” This implies that by that time, the Urim and Thummim were no longer effective for Saul due to his disobedience and separation from God.
Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65 refer to a time after the Babylonian exile when certain priests could not prove their genealogy. The governor said they should not eat of the holy things “till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim,” showing it was still considered authoritative for divine decisions.
Though the exact nature and operation of the Urim and Thummim remain a mystery, they functioned as sacred tools for receiving divine guidance. They underscore the importance of seeking God’s will in crucial matters and foreshadow the perfect revelation that would come through Jesus Christ, who is the Light and the Truth.
