Urim and Thummim

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Inside the breastpiece of decision you shall place the Urim and Thummim, so that they are over Aaron’s heart when he comes before יהוה. Thus Aaron shall carry the instrument of decision for the Israelites over his heart before יהוה at all times.

But he shall present himself to Eleazar the priest, who shall on his behalf seek the decision of the Urim before יהוה. By such instruction they shall go out and by such instruction they shall come in, he and all the Israelite [militia], and the whole community.”

David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring the ephod up to me.” When Abiathar brought up the ephod to David, David inquired of GOD, “Shall I pursue those raiders? Will I overtake them?” The reply came, “Pursue, for you shall overtake and you shall rescue.”

I Samuel 30:7-8

When David learned that Saul was planning to harm him, he told the priest Abiathar to bring the ephod forward.

You shall make a breastpiece of decision, worked into a design; make it in the style of the ephod: make it of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen. It shall be square and doubled, a span in length and a span in width. Set in it mounted stones, in four rows of stones. The first row shall be a row of carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald; the second row: a turquoise, a sapphire, and an amethyst; the third row: a jacinth, an agate, and a crystal; and the fourth row: a beryl, a lapis lazuli, and a jasper. They shall be framed with gold in their mountings…

Exodus 28:15-21

The Tirshatha ordered them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim should appear.

And of Levi he said:
Let Your Thummim and Urim
Be with Your faithful one,
Whom You tested at Massah,
Challenged at the waters of Meribah;

Deuteronomy 33:8

Why is it called Urim VeTummim? Urim, which is based on the word or, light, is so called because it illuminates and explains its words. Tummim, which is based on the word tam, completed, is because it fulfills its words, which always come true.

את האורים ואת התמים THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM — This was an inscription of the Proper Name of God which was placed between the folds (i. e. the two pieces forming the front and back) of the breast-plate through which it (the breast-plate) made its statements clear (lit., illuminated its words; מאיר from אור, light, this being an allusion to the אורים) and its promises true (מתמם from the root תמם, an allusion to תמים) (Yoma 73b). In the second Temple there was certainly the breast-plate (although other objects employed in the Temple Service were missing) for it was impossible that the High…

Rashi on Exodus 28:30:1

And Saul inquired of GOD, but GOD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.

AND THOU SHALT PUT IN THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra thought to display wisdom in the matter of the Urim and the Thummim, by saying that they were made by a craftsman from gold and silver, and he continued his discussion of them in this vein, for he thought that they were akin to the forms which the astrologers make in order to know the thoughts of the one who comes to ask of them [about the future]. But what [Ibn Ezra] said is of no import. Rather, the Urim and the Thummim are as Rashi has written: “This was an inscription of the Proper Name of…

Ramban on Exodus 28:30:1

Our sages of blessed memory expounded this (Exodus Rabbah 3:20): "'Who makes a man's mouth?' — the L rd said to Moses: 'If you are not a man of speech, do not be concerned about it. Have I not created all the mouths in the world, and have I not made mute whom I willed? Have I not made some blind to sight and others receptive to sound? And had I willed that you be a man of speech, you would, indeed, have been so. But my desire is to perform a miracle through you. When you speak, your words will be distinct, for I will be with your mouth,' as it is written (Exodus 4:12): 'And now, go…

Derashot HaRan 3:15-17

ויתן אל החשן את האורים ואת התומים, “he inserted in the breastplate the Urim and Tumim.” These “urim vetumim” were a parchment with the Ineffable Name written on it. We have explained all this in Exodus 28,30. This represented one of the various stages of the Holy Spirit. Access to G’d by means of the urim vetumim was on a lower level than that at the disposal of a prophet, but it represented a higher level of Holy Spirit than hearing a בת קול, “a heavenly echo.” You should appreciate that the difference between what is commonly known as “Holy Spirit” and “prophecy…

Rabbeinu Bahya, Vayikra 8:8:1

וללוי אמר, “and concerning Levi, he said:” The preposition ל in the word וללוי must be understood as בעבור, “for the sake of;” Moses is addressing G’d in this verse. He adds the words לאיש חסידך, “for Your pious one,” referring to his brother Aaron. He continues with אשר נסיתו במסה, “whom You have tested at Massah,” referring either to the incident at the waters of strife which was the only time Aaron had ever failed. Alternatively, Moses referred to the location Massah formerly known as Refidim [it is not clear to me how Aaron was involved there. Ed…

Rabbeinu Bahya, Devarim 33:8:1-3

Rav Yosef said: Upon what verse is this aggada based? As it is written: “And after Ahitophel was Benayahu son of Yehoyada and Evyatar, and the general of the king’s army, Yoav” (I Chronicles 27:34). The individuals named in this verse correspond with the roles in the aggada as follows: Ahitophel is the adviser whose advice they sought first with regard to going to war, and so it says: “Now the counsel of Ahitophel, which he counseled in those days, was as a man who inquires of the word of God…

Berakhot 3b:31-4a:2

The Ark was placed on a stone in the western portion of the Holy of Holies. The vial of manna and Aharon's staff were placed before it.
When Solomon built the Temple, he was aware that it would ultimately be destroyed. [Therefore,] he constructed a chamber, in which the ark could be entombed below [the Temple building] in deep, maze-like vaults.
King Josiah commanded that [the Ark] be entombed in the chamber built by Solomon, as it is said (II Chronicles 35:3 : "And he said to the Levites who would teach wisdom to all of Israel: 'Place the Holy Ark in the chamber built by Solomon…

Mishneh Torah, The Chosen Temple 4:1

Why are they called “Urim”? Because they were enlightening Israel. And “Tummin”? Because they were straightening out the way before them. As long as Israel were straight, they were showing them the correct way; as we find that they lied to them in Geva Benjamin. Rebbi Jehudah said, may God forbid, they did not lie to them in Geva Benjamin. For the first time it said, “attack” but did not say “I gave”, and the second time it said, “attack” and said “I gave”. One does not ask two questions simultaneously…

Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 7:3:7-8

“The wrath of the Lord was enflamed against Moses, and He said: Surely Aaron your brother the Levite, I know that he can speak. And behold, he is coming out to meet you, and he will see you, and be glad in his heart” (Exodus 4:14).
What enflamed wrath was there? [At that moment,] the priesthood was taken from Moses and given to Aaron. Our Rabbis of blessed memory say: “Surely Aaron your brother the Levite” – from the fact that He said “your brother,” don’t I know that he is a Levite? Rather, He said to him: ‘You were fit to be a priest, and he, a Levite…

Shemot Rabbah 3:17

And thou shalt put upon the breastplate of judgment the Uraia, which illuminate their words, and manifest the hidden things of the house of Israel, and the Tumaia, which fulfil (or perfect) their work to the high priest, who seeketh instruction by them before the Lord; because in them is engraven and expressed the Great and Holy Name by which were created the three hundred and ten worlds, and which was engraven and expressed in the foundation stone wherewith the Lord of the world sealed up the mouth of the great deep at the beginning…

Targum Jonathan on Exodus 28:30

And he shall minister before Elazar the priest; and when any matter is hidden from him, he shall inquire for him before the Lord by Uraia. According to the word of Elazar the priest they shall go forth to battle, and come in to do judgment be and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

Targum Jonathan on Numbers 27:21

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