Urim and Thummim

The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects placed within the breastplate of the high priest's ephod, as described in Exodus 28, and functioned as a divinely sanctioned means to discern God's will on critical national matters through yes-or-no or oracular responses. Biblical accounts record their use by figures such as Joshua before military campaigns, the priest Eleazar during the settlement of Canaan, and King Saul in seeking guidance, illustrating their role in Israel's theocratic governance. Their significance lies in underscoring the high priest's mediatory function and the broader scriptural theme of dependence on divine direction rather than human initiative alone. Though their exact composition remains unknown and they disappear from the record after the early post-exilic period, they exemplify the Old Testament's emphasis on God's active involvement in the affairs of His covenant people.