RE: The URIM and THUMMIM1

Both the Urim and the Thummim were in the breastplate fastened to the Ephod initially worn by Aaron – the High Priest when he entered the “holy place” to inquire of the LORD God on behalf of the people. That is, the Urim – “divine lights” and the Thummim – “divine perfections” for the counsel and decision of God concerning His chosen people. For the answers received through the “lights” of the Urim provided guidance for the people. Though it was to be passed down to each succeeding High Priest, the last recorded use was by Abiathar who was the High Priest at the close of King Saul’s tenure when the LORD God refused to answer Saul whether via dreams or Urim or Prophets. There is no documented use of the Urim after King David of whom Scripture often refers to as “the man of God”. Thereafter, God spoke through His Prophets until what a Study Bible(s) refers to as “THE INTERLUDE” – a span of 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament whereof not a single divine spokes-person or Prophet was noticeable, and those claiming to be a prophet were proven imposters.2  By the redemptive work of Christ Jesus who walked in perfect obedience to the will of God the Father, “The Judgement of God now centers in His Son, to whom at His right hand He has committed all authority, and the will of God is given to believers in the completed and all sufficient Scriptures of truth, ministered by the Holy Spirit.”    

1 Vine, W.E. (1997). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words. (p. 131-132). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

2 Zondervan. (2005). Life Application Study Bible: New International Version (NIV). (p. 1517). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.