the Urim and Thummim, את אורים ואת התמים the Urim and Thummim, lights and perfections; rendered by the LXX δηλωσιϚ και αληθεια, manifestation and truth; and, by the Vulgate, doctrina et veritas, doctrine and truth. Among the various and contradictory opinions respecting the form and substance of these mysterious appendages, the most probable seems to be that of Josephus, Philo, Bp. Patrick, Parkhurst, and the Jewish writers generally; who state, that they were no other than the twelve precious stones of the high priest's breastplate. In support of this statement, it is observed:
1. That in the description of the high priest's breastplate, "And he madeª°¹ the breastplateª [of] cunningª° work,ª like the workª of the ephod;ª [of] gold,ª blue,ª and purple,ª and scarlet,ªª and fine twined²° linen.ª¹" {Exd 39:8}, et seq., the Urim and Thummim are not mentioned, but only the rows of stones; and on the contrary, in "And he putª°¹ the breastplateª upon¹ him: also he putª° in¹ the breastplateª¹ the Urimª and the Thummim.ª" {Lev 8:8}, the Urim and Thummim are expressly mentioned, but not a word is said of the four rows of stones.
2. As Moses has given such a particular description of every thing relative to the high priest's dress, these would certainly have been described had they been different from what was previously mentioned. "And he putª°¹ the breastplateª upon¹ him: also he putª° in¹ the breastplateª¹ the Urimª and the Thummim.ª" {Lev 8:8} + "And he shall standª° beforeª Eleazarª the priest,ª who shall askª° [counsel] for him after the judgmentª of Urimª beforeª the LORD:ª at¹ his wordª shall they go out,ª° and at¹ his wordª they shall come in,ª° [both] he,¹ and all¹ the childrenª of Israelª with¹ him, even all¹ the congregation.ª" {Num 27:21} + "And of Leviª he said,ª° [Let] thy Thummimª and thy Urimª [be] with thy holyª one,ª whom¹ thou didst proveª° at Massah,ª [and with] whom thou didst striveª° at¹ the watersª of Meribah;ª" {Deu 33:8} + "Now afterª the deathª of Joshuaª it came to pass,¹ that the childrenª of Israelª askedª° the LORD,ª saying,ª° Who¹ shall go upª° for us against¹ the Canaanitesª first,ª to fightª° against them?" {Jdg 1:1} + "And the childrenª of Israelª arose,ª° and went upª° to the house² of God,ª²° and asked²° counsel¹ of God,ª and said,ª° Whichª of us shall go upª° firstª to the battleª against¹ the childrenª of Benjamin?ª And the LORDª said,ª° Judahª [shall go up] first.ª" {Jdg 20:18} + "(And the childrenª of Israelª went upª° and weptª° beforeª the LORDª until¹ even,ª and asked²° counsel¹ of the LORD,ª saying,ª° Shall I go upª° againª° to battleª against¹ the childrenª of Benjaminª my brother?ª And the LORDª said,ª° Go upª° against¹ him.)" {Jdg 20:23} + "And the childrenª of Israelª enquiredª° of the LORD,ª (for the arkª of the covenantª of Godª [was] there¹ in those¹ days,ª ... And Phinehas,ª the sonª of Eleazar,ª the sonª of Aaron,ª stoodª° beforeª it in those¹ days,)ª saying,ª° Shall I yet¹ againª° go outª° to battleª against¹ the childrenª of Benjaminª my brother,ª or¹ shall I cease?ª° And the LORDª said,ª° Go up;ª° for¹ to morrowª I will deliverª° them into thine hand.ª" {Jdg 20:27-28} + "And Davidª knewª° that¹ Saulª secretly practisedª° mischiefª against¹ him; and he saidª° to¹ Abiatharª the priest,ª Bring hitherª° the ephod.ª ... Then saidª° David,ª Will the menª of Keilahª deliverª° me and my men²¹ into the handª of Saul?ª And the LORDª said,ª° They will deliver [thee] up.ª°" {1Sm 23:9-12} + "And when Saulª enquiredª° of the LORD,ª the LORDª answeredª° him not,¹ neither¹ by dreams,ª nor¹ by Urim,ª nor¹ by prophets.ª" {1Sm 28:6} + "And Davidª saidª° to¹ Abiatharª the priest,ª Ahimelech'sª son,ª I pray thee,¹ bring me hitherª° the ephod.ª And Abiatharª broughtª° thither¹ the ephodª to¹ David.ª ... And Davidª enquiredª° at the LORD,ª saying,ª° Shall I pursueª° afterª this¹ troop?ª shall I overtakeª° them? And he answeredª° him, Pursue:ª° for¹ thou shalt surely²° overtakeª° [them], and without fail²° recoverª° [all]." {1Sm 30:7-8} + "And the Tirshathaª saidª° unto them, that¹ they should not¹ eatª° of the most² holy things,ª¹ till¹ there stood upª° a priestª with Urimª and with Thummim.ª" {Ezr 2:63} + "And the Tirshathaª saidª° unto them, that¹ they should not¹ eatª° of the most² holy things,ª¹ till¹ there stoodª° [up] a priestª with Urimª and Thummim.ª" {Neh 7:65}