Urim VeTummim/2

Urim VeTumim

Exegetical Approaches

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The Choshen Stones

The Urim and Tummim are identified with the stones of the Choshen on which were engraved the names of the tribes.

Sources:Rav Shrira Gaonאוצר הגאונים ברכות התשובות ו', Lekach TovShemot 29:15About R. Toviah b. Eliezer, RambamHilkhot Beit HaBechirah 4:1Hilkhot Kelei HaMikdash 10:10-13About R. Moshe b. Maimon,¹ R. Avraham b. HaRambamShemot 28:30About R. Avraham Maimonides

No description in Shemot 28? The lack of description of the Urim and Tummim might be one of the factors motivating this approach.  If the Urim and Tummin are identical with the stones of the Choshen which are described at length, there is no need to describe them separately.

No mention in Shemot 39? For this same reason, there is no distinct description of the Urim and Tummim being created in Shemot 39. Their creation is included in the chapter's detailing of the making of the Choshen stones, engraving upon them the names of the tribes, and embedding them in their golden frame.

Relationship between 28:29 and 28:30 – This approach might additionally be motivated by the similarity in language between 28:29 and 28:30. It assumes that both verses speak of the same object but highlight two different goals of the Urim and Tummim.  The names on the stones were meant to ensure that the tribes were constantly remembered, while the framework as a whole allowed Aharon to determine the answers to their questions.²

Why are they called Urim and Tumim? Haketav VeHaKabbalahShemot 28:30About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg³ suggests that the name might relate to the stones' physical properties.  They were lustrous (full of "אור") and being unhewn, complete and perfect ("תם"). Lekach Tov, instead, suggests that the name reflects the divining function of the stones. Urim stems from the word "אור",  for they enlightened Israel when they had a question. Tummim relates to the word "תם", completeness or integrity, for their determinations always came true.

Why two names? This position must explain why the same object is given two distinct names:

• Rav Shrira Gaon suggests that the additional name is simply a sign of praise, highlighting the unique and important nature of the object.
• It is also possible that the Urim and Tummim is the name given to the entire framework of twelve stones in their gold settings.⁴ The Choshen, in contrast, referred to the multicolored woven fabric, or perhaps to the fabric together with the framework of stones, while the stones themselves each have individual names.

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶל הַחֹשֶׁן אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים" (Vayikra 8:8) – Ralbag⁵ questions that if the Urim and Tummim are identical with the Choshen stones, how is one to understand the phrase "וַיִּתֵּן אֶל⁶ הַחֹשֶׁן", which implies that Moshe placed a distinct object into the Choshen? Moreover, were not the stones already part of the Choshen, as implied by the phrase "וַיְמַלְאוּ בוֹ אַרְבָּעָה טוּרֵי אָבֶן" (Shemot 39:10). HaKetav VeHaKabbalahShemot 28:30About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg answers that 39:10 refers only to the making of hollows in which the stones were to be later set.⁷ In Vayikra 8:8, Moshe then attaches the entire framework of stones (a distinct object) onto the embroidered square of the Choshen.

How did the divination work? According to Rambam (and his son), when asked a question, the priest would get divine inspiration, look at the Choshen, and via prophecy see certain letters from the engraved names protrude to spell a reply. According to him, the letters on the stones themselves did not physically shine or pop out and there was no supernatural component to the Choshen. It merely facilitated prophecy.

Use in Second Temple Period – According to Rambam, though the Urim and Tummim still existed in second temple times, as they were part of the Choshen and necessary to complete the priestly garb, they no longer played a divining role. This resulted from the lesser level of the priests of the time, for only one who had the Divine spirit (רוח הקודש) rest upon them could answer the nation's questions.

What is the relationship between the Urim and Tumim? This position would suggest that there is no difference between the Urim and Tummim. When the Urim is mentioned alone, it is simply an abbreviation.

Definite Article – HaKetav VeHaKabbalah suggests that the Urim and Tummim are referred to with a definite article because they indeed refer back to something known, the Choshen stones which have been spoken about previously.

Script

The Urim and Tummim consisted of an inscription or writing of some sort.  This position subdivides as to the content of that script

Name of Hashem

The Urim and Tummim were an inscription of the proper name of Hashem (or perhaps several names of Hashem) inserted into the folds of the Choshen.

Sources:Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan)Shemot 28:30About Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan), RashiShemot 28:30About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RambanShemot 28:30About R. Moshe b. Nachman, RalbagShemot Beur HaMilot 28:30About R. Levi b. Gershom #1, AbarbanelShemot 28:6About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

No description in Shemot 28 and no execution in Shemot – Ramban explains that since the Urim and Tummim were simply an inscription of the Divine name and not the work of artisans or the product of the Israelite donations, there is no command and no description of how they were made. He posits that either Moshe himself wrote the name via Divine secret, or that they were heavenly made.

Definite article – Ramban points to this as further proof of his position, suggesting that the Urim and Tummim are referred to with a definite article as "the" Urim and Tummim due to their holy status or because of their Divine creation.⁸

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶל הַחֹשֶׁן אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים" (Vayikra 8:8) – Abarbanel notes that this verse, too, supports this approach, for it implies that Moshe placed a distinct object into the Choshen. The fact that the Choshen was folded over to form a pocket⁹  further suggests that it was meant to hold something (and not simply serve as a backing for the Choshen stones, as per the above position).

How did the divination work?

• Spell out message – Ramban suggests that when asked a question, the power from the Divine names of the Urim caused certain letters from the names on the Choshen stones to be illuminated.¹⁰ These, though, were not in order, and so other Divine names from the Tummim, Divinely inspired the priest so he would correctly arrange them to form a word.¹¹
• Inspire prophecy – Ralbag, in stead, suggests that focusing on the Divine name in the Urim and Tummim helped the priest attain prophecy

Why are they called Urim and Tummim?

• Targum Yonatan maintains that the name derives from their function, with Urim referring to how they illuminated Israel as to how they should act, and Tummim referring to the fact that the predictions made were always fulfilled. 
• Ramban, alternatively, suggests that the name refers to the techniques by which the divination occurred, Urim relating to the shining of the letters and Tummim to the perfection given to the priest in unscrambling these letters to form a message.

Relationship between 28:29 and 28:30

Use in Second Temple Period – Rashi

Relationship between Urim and Tummim

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Letters of the Alphabet

The Urim and Tummim consisted of small pieces of wood or metal on which were inscribed the letters of the alphabet.

Sources:ShadalVayikra 8:8About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, Hoil MosheShemot 28:30About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi

No description in Shemot 28 and no execution in Shemot – Since the letter tablets did not need to be crafted specially, and were not made by by Betzalel, there is no desciption of them in the commands of Shemot 28 and no mention of them in the verses detailing the fulfillment of the commands in Shemot 39.

Meaning of Name – Shadal suggests that each of the letters of the alphabet might have been given unique names, with aleph referred to as "אור" (appropriate for the first letter) and taf as "תם" (fitting for the final, letter).  All the letters together, from aleph to taf, were called "Urim and Tummim".

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶל הַחֹשֶׁן אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים" (Vayikra 8:8) – Shadal suggests that the fact that Moshe first inserted the Urim and Tummim into the pocket of the Choshen during the consecration ceremony implies that they were not a fixed part if it and were meant to be removed periodically The fact that the Choshen was folded to form a pocket further implies that it was meant to serve as a holder. As such, viewing the Urim and Tummim as individual letter blocks matches the description.

How did the divination work? Shadal suggests that the priest would ramdomly take out one letter at a time and Divine providence would thereby provide an appropriate response to whatever question was asked.

Astrological Signs

Sources:Ibn EzraShemot First Commentary 28:30Shemot Second Commentary 28:6About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RalbagShemot Beur HaMilot 28:30About R. Levi b. Gershom

Lottery

¹ Rambam is not explicit, but this is how he has been understood by later commentators.  See, for example, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahShemot 28:30About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg.

² The Choshen is known as "the breastplate of judgment" because via it Aharon was able to determine "מִשְׁפַּט בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל", how they should act and what they should do.

³ He brings this as a second possible reason, first noting the reasoning given by Lekach Tov that the name relates to the stones' function.

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⁵ See also Abarbanel.

⁶ The phrase "וַיִּתֵּן אֶל" is understood as if written "וַיִּתֵּן על".

⁷ He points to Rashi who reads the verse in this way.  According to HaKetav VeHaKabbalah, Rashi understands the word "בו" to mean "for it" rather than "in it".

⁸ He compares it to the description of the cherubs who were placed to guard the Garden of Eden who are similarly referred to as "the" cherubs even though they had not been mentioned earlier.

⁹ See Rashbam on 28:16.

¹⁰ Cf. R. Yochanan in Yoma 63b that the letters protruded.

¹¹ One could have alternatively suggested that the letters shone and the priest on his own unscrambled them to form a word,  though this would potentially allow for human error.