Subject: Re: Urim and Thummin
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 23:26:58 +0000
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com wrote:
>
> From: Dale Erickson
> To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
> Subject: Urrim and Thummin
>
> Dear Sir:
>
> My senior pastor has asked me to write and see if you have definitive
> information on what the Urrim and Thummin looked like or how it was used.
> Would you have any information of this?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dale Erickson
>
> **********************************************************************
From: Ronnie Fulcher
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Urim and Thummin
The Urim and Thummin or lights and perfection was used to find the will
of G-d. By Asking G-d a question then entering the Holy PLace the
Letters on the breastplate would light up. Some Rabbi's say that the U
and T were stones that were below the Breastplace and when brought out
would reflect the light from the Menorrah to the sones of the
breastplate thus lighting up the letters and finding the will of G-d.
If you need more info let me know.
Shalom
Ronnie Fulcher
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From: Debbie Davis
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Re: Urim and Thummin
Dear Dale:
The Urim means "lights" and Thummin means "perfections". They were
probably two jewels. When someone had to make an important decision
the request was made known to the high priest. He would stand before
the Lampstand, holding the Urim in one hand and the Thummin in the
other. As the light reflected from the Urim and the Thummin onto the
stones of the breastplate, this flash of light provided up to 24
combinations (2x12). Since there are 22 letters in the Hevrew
alphabet, the flashes of light could produce strings of letters. As
G-d breathed through the Ark the Veil would move, permitting a breeze
to flicker the flames in the lampstand to momentarily alter the angle
of direction of the light onto t he urim and Thummin and the thence to
the breastplate. Thus G-d was able to communicate directly, but not
audibly to the high priest and answer the enquiry.
Debbie
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From: Philip Nowland
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Re: Urim and Thummin
URIM AND THUMMIM - Lights and Perfection's.
Stones carried by the high priest and used to determine God's will in
certain matters. There are theories put forward as to what these
stones were and how they were used to determine God's will: Some have
suggested that these were used as dice are thrown, to aid the high
priest in making important decisions. Others that they were precious
stones that would glow or flash in a significant fashion when being
employed. Still others have suggested that the Priest would go into a
trance when consulting them. The Urim and Thummim were either on, by,
or in the high priest's breastplate and as such it is often called the
breastplate of judgement, or decision. The linen of the breastplate
was to be doubled to form a square (Exodus. 28:16) and could thus form
an envelope or pouch. It seems that the Urim and Thummim were kept in
this and were somehow prepared to allow the signification yes/no or
true/false decision. However, one good possibility is that they were
simply four identical shaped and feeling stones, two black and two
white. When consulting them the priest would, following prayer, simply
withdraw two of them from the breastplate (pouch) and dependant up the
selection a "yes", "no" or "nil-decision" would be rendered: Two white
stones = yes Two black stones = no One black/one white = nil
decision Thus it would be possible to perceive (from this last
selection) that God would express His contempt at the question, as in
the case where Saul consulted the Urim and Thummim and got such a
disastrous selection.
There is not a great deal mentioned in the Bible about the Urim and
Thummim. i. The breastplate of judgement (Exodus. 28:30; Leviticus.
8:8). ii. Joshua consults the Urim (and Thummim) through Eleazar the
priest, on succeeding Moses (Numbers 27:21). iii. Moses' dying
blessing upon Levi (Deuteronomy. 33:8). iv. Saul unsuccessfully seeks
the "Urim and the prophets" (1 Samuel 28:6). Then he goes to the witch
of En-dor.
v. In the restoration. certain practices denied until "a priest"
consulted the Urim and Thummim (Ezra 2:63) vi. Urim and Thummim not
named, but may be implied but are not named:
Joshua. 7:14-18
1 Samuel. 14:37-45
2 Samuel. 21:1
In the New Testament, the early church did practice a form of lot
selection, that is not unlike what may be described in the Urim and
Thummim, but this does not seem to be exclusively the only practice,
or method of ascertaining God's will, as on other occasions they
looked for a consensus of opinion. It is of interest to note that on
the only clear occasion that lots were recorded as being used by the
New Testament church (Acts 1) it was regarding the selection of a
person, rather than a principle or practice.
Philip Nowland - Huntingdon, England (21 November 1995)
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