Lux et Veritas

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

את האורים ואת התומים; the function was somewhat similar to that of oracles employed by the priests of idolatrous cults. If those had any value at all, -and we may assume that at least their worshippers had concluded that they did, -how much more influential would these urim vetumim in the sacred garments of the High Priest be in order to elicit answers to questions posed to G’d, seeing that the means employed were holy and sanctioned by G’d Himself?

AND THEY SHALL MAKE THE EPHOD. Scripture starts with the ephod because it was larger than the breastplate. The Torah tells us that the breastplate be not loosed from the skilfully woven band of the ephod (v. 28). There are some very difficult questions relating to the ephod and the breastplate. Moses only made one ephod. However, Scripture states, that he came down with an ephod in his hand (I Sam. 23:6). The latter does not refer to the ephod made by Moses, for Scripture does not read “the ephod,” the meaning of which is, the well-known ephod, as it does when it states, “Bring hither the ephod” (I Sam. 23:9). Furthermore, why does Scripture state, he came down, but it does not say he brought down? It thus appears that the ephod was accidentally among his possessions. Additionally, Scripture there states, fourscore persons that did wear a linen (bad) ephod (I Sam. 22:18). Many commentaries explain this verse as meaning that the persons were fit to wear the ephod. However, they did not bother to learn the truth. A bad (linen) ephod is an ephod made from a type of flax. However, the ephod made by Moses was not made of bad (linen). It was made of gold, blue wool, purple wool, and scarlet, with shesh (linen) intertwined with all of the aforementioned. They only inquired of the breastplate of judgment which had the Urim and Thummim upon it. Scripture similarly writes, by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord (Num. 27:21). Bring hither the ephod (I Sam. 23:9) does not present a counterargument because the breastplate was connected to it. The Urim went along with the breastplate. We similarly read, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim (Neh. 7:65). Scripture likewise states, Thy Thummim and Thy Urim (Deut. 33:8). Now, Scripture tells us that God answered David through Abiathar’s ephod. However, we also read that when Saul went to war he inquired of the Urim (I Sam. 28:6). These were the very Urim that were placed in the breastplate of judgment which was with the ephod and the ark. However, David inquired of Abiathar’s ephod in Ziklag. Abiathar’s ephod was thus not Moses’ ephod. The following problem is even more difficult. It is clear that the Urim do not refer to the stones of the breastplate, as Scripture openly states, And thou shalt set in it settings of stones (v. 17). The setting of the stones was the work of a stonecutter and not the work of Moses. God then told Moses, And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim (v. 30). Scripture, in describing the making of the breastplate, tells us, And they set in it four rows of stones (Ex. 39:10). Scripture then describes the four rows of stones. Scripture tells us that Moses placed the breastplate upon Aaron and in the breastplate he put the Urim and the Thummim (Lev. 8:8). Now according to the plain meaning of the text the stones were not the objects that enlightened or fulfilled, because inquiries were made of the Urim and Thummim. We do not know what they were. The explanation that the names of the tribes and the patriarchs were inscribed on the breastplate is of no help, for the breastplate of judgment was so called only because of the Urim that were on it. There is an additional question: we cannot identify the Urim with the Thummim, for Scripture states, with Urim and Thummim (Neh. 7:65). Furthermore, the words with Urim and Thummim are in the plural. They thus consisted of many objects. Rabbi Solomon says that the Urim and Thummim consisted of an inscription of God’s explicit name. However, he would not have said this had he seen the responsa of Rabbi Hai Gaon. There is a very deep secret behind the ephod and the breastplate. I will allude only to a part of this secret. Perhaps he who knows the mind of the Most High will understand it. The following are the keys to the secret of the ephod. The two wreathen chains on the two rings [represent the head of Aries and Libra]. The band of the ephod represents the celestial equator. Hence six names were inscribed on the stone which was on the other shoulder. Now these things can only be grasped by the mind. Hence six names were inscribed on one stone in accordance with the number, names, and order of birth of the tribes of the children of Israel. Six names were similarly inscribed on the second stone. On the other hand, the names on the breastplate were not divided in the same manner as they are grasped by the mind. They were divided in a way that could be perceived by the eye. Scripture states, And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a thread of blue (v. 28) to prevent the breastplate from moving to the side. The breastplate was folded, for the Urim and Thummim were kept there until such time as they were needed. They were then placed outside of the breastplate. Note, the stones of the ephod were like each other. They were of one color. This was not the case with the stones of the breastplate, for the sapphire stones served as a memorial, while the judgment of the children of Israel was upon the stones of the breastplate. The word Urim is related to the word ur (fire) in I am warm, I have seen the fire (Is. 44:16). The Thummim are so called because they are whole. The Urim were of gold and silver. This was not the case with the Thummim. The [importance of the] number [twelve] has been established by irrefutable proof from the upper and lower worlds. The intelligent will understand what I say. Now the priests had many ephodim. They all had bands. However, they lacked the breastplate and the Urim. A priest who was an expert in using the Urim and Thummim was able to respond to an inquirer because the ephod at hand resembled [the ephod made by Moses]. However, the priest did not always get an answer. Now if I wanted to even begin to reveal this secret it would take up more space than the entire commentary which I have composed on this book. For only an individual who has studied works on geometry and the secret of the way the sky works can understand the secret of the ephod. There is no need to expand on the form of the ephod, the breastplate, and the rings.