URIM and THUMMIM, in the Bible. These descriptive terms are applied to one of the methods of divination employed by the ancient Hebrews, which, it is now generally agreed, con sisted in a species of sacred lot. Together with "dreams" and the prophetic oracle it formed the recognized channel by which divine communications were given (cf. I. Sam: xxviii. 6). That some method of casting lots is denoted by the terms is evident from I. Sam. xiv. f.
From this illuminating passage it is clear (a) that by means of the and Thummim the guilt or innocence of the suspected parties was determined; (b) that this was effected by a series of categorical questions implying the simple alternative of "yes" or "no," or something positive or negative. A further inference (c) from a comparison of I. Sam. xiv. 41, f. with ver. 36 (Greek text) is that this method of casting the sacred lot was closely connected with divination by the Ephod (q.v.), and was the prerogative of the priests. For this last point the "Blessing of Moses" (Deut. xxxiii.), where the opening words of the Benediction on Levi run thus (text as emended by Ball, following LXX. ; Proc. of Soc. of Bibl. Arch. 1896) : "Give to Levi Thy Thummim, and Thy Urim to the man of Thy favour." For a similar Arabic custom, cf. G. F. Moore Ency. Bib. IV., col. 5236.
In the post-exilic Priestly Code the Urim and Thummim figure as part of the equipment of the High Priest (cf. Ex. xxviii. 30; Lev. viii. 8; Num. xxvii. 21). Here it is stated that they are kept in a square pouch which is worn upon the high priest's breast ("the breastplate of judgment"), and attached to the ephod. Thus the association of the Urim and Thummim with the ephod, is retained.
That Urim and Thummim were not then in use is shown by Neh. vii. 65 (Ezra ii. 63 ; I. Esdras v. 4o). Later references (Ecclus. xiv. io; in Josephus and the Talmud) prove that no real tradition survived on the subject. As vocalized in the Mas soretic Hebrew text the names ="Lights and perfections." But the Greek translators read the former orirn and connected it with torah, "decision"; it would thus mean "doctrine"; so Symmachus (cf. I. Esd. v. 40).
_Town. of Semitic Lang., 2900). (G. H. B.)