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, perhaps 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.

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 roles of the Urim and Tummim.  The stones were meant to both ensure that the tribes were constantly remembered and to enable 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, were 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. 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) – Ibn Ezra⁴ questions that if the Urim and Tummim are identical with the Choshen stones, how is one to understand the phrase "וַיִּתֵּן אֶל הַחֹשֶׁן", which implies that Moshe placed a distinct object into the Choshen? Moreover, he asks,  were not the stones already put into the Choshen by the artisans before the days of consecration, 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.⁵ In Vayikra 8:8, Moshe then attaches the entire framework of stones (a distinct object) onto⁶ the embroidered square of the Choshen.

How did the divination work? According to Rambam,⁷ 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.⁸ 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 attain the Divine inspiration necessary to 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.

Philosophical motivations? It is possible that Rambam's rejection of the opinion that the Urim and Tummim consisted of Divine names relates to his discomfort with the masses belief in and use of magical amulets "empowered" by Divine names (Moreh Nevukhim 1:61Hilkhot Kelei HaMikdash 10:10-13Moreh Nevukhim 1:61About R. Moshe b. Maimon). According to him, the Urim and Tummim are totally removed from any "magical" component, and work purely via prophecy.

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 39 – 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 their creation. He posits that either Moshe himself wrote the name via Divine secret, or that the inscription was 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 and/or because of their Divine creation.⁹

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶל הַחֹשֶׁן אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים" (Vayikra 8:8) – Ralbag and Abarbanel note 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 pocket¹⁰  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.¹¹ These, though, appeared simultaneously and were not in order, and so other Divine names from the Tummim, inspired the priest so he would correctly arrange them to form a word.¹² Abarbanel, instead, suggests that the letters were illuminated one by one, so that the message spelled itself.¹³
• Inspire prophecy – Ralbag, instead, suggests that focusing on the Divine name in the Urim and Tummim helped the priest attain prophecy. [According to him, nothing on the Choshen was illuminated or protruded.]

Why are they called Urim and Tummim?

• Purpose  – Targum Yonatan maintains that the name derives from their function, with Urim referring to how they illuminated Israel, telling them how to act, and Tummim referring to the fact that the predictions made were always fulfilled. 
• Technique – Ramban, alternatively, suggests that the name refers to the techniques by which the divination occurred, The Urim relates to the shining of the letters and Tummim to the perfection given to the priest which enabled him to unscramble the letters to form a message.

Relationship between Urim and Tummim – According to most of these sources, who posit that the inscription contained just the proper name of Hashem, there is no difference between the Urim and Tummim. However, according to Ramban, who maintains that each of the Urim and Tummim refers to different names of Hashem, the two are distinct. Nonetheless, it seems that they might all agree that in those cases where the text refers only to the "Urim", it  is simply a shortened formulation for "Urim and Tummim".

Relationship between 28:29 and 28:30 – These sources might suggest that each verse is focusing on a different part of the Choshen, each with a different role. The names on the stones were meant to be a memorial, while the Urim and Tummim were for judgment.

Efod – Ramban suggests that the secrets of the Urim and Tummim and its Divine names might have been passed on to the learned scholars of Israel. Thus, others besides the priest might have made Efods with a Choshen and Divine names similar to that made by Moshe, and used them periodically to consult with God

Use in Second Temple Period – Rashi

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 Ashkenazi¹⁴

No description in Shemot 28 and no execution in Shemot 39 – Since the letter tablets did not need to be crafted specially, and were not made by by Betzalel, there is no description 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. Moreover, 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 randomly take out one letter at a time and Divine providence would thereby provide an appropriate response to whatever question was asked.

Definite article – If the Urim and Tummin is simply another name for the alphabet, then it was a known entity, explaining the presence of the definite article.

Astrological Signs

The Urim and Tummim referred to forms of various astrological objects, such as the various stars and constellations.

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

What types of astrological signs?

• Ibn Ezra is intentionally obscure but claims that  the Urim were made of gold and silver, perhaps implying that one was meant to represent the sun and the other the moon. He further alludes to the twelve constellations,¹⁵ perhaps what he thinks the Tummim represented. As such, it seems that according to him, the Urim and Tummin might have functioned as a sort of astrolabe, a model of the celestial spheres.
• Ralbag explains similarly, explicitly suggesting that the Urim refer to images of the stars, while the Tummim refer to forms of other celestial objects and their movers, including their prime mover, Hashem. According to him, then, the latter were presumably alluded to via some type of writing and not via a physical image.

Process of divination – Both Ibn Ezra and Ralbag believed that Hashem gave power to the celestial spheres to control the terrestrial one. Thus, a proper understanding of the stars can reveal future fate, though this is an imperfect science, especially as that fate might be overturned by Hashem.¹⁶  Ralbag suggests that, as such, focusing on the Urim and Tummim facilitated attaining knowledge of the future and prophecy.

Difference between the Urim and Tummim – According to Ralbag, since the Urim related only to the stars, even one who was not a prophet could attain knowledge of the future by meditating on them.  This, though, was accurate only in questions related to the immediate future, where time did not allow for one's fate to change.  The knowledge granted by the Tummim, however, relied on full prophecy, as it related to meditating on the Prime Mover, Hashem, who can overturn the decrees of the stars.  He, therefore, suggests that  verses which speak of someone consulting only the Urim imply that the user was not at a high enough level to receive prophecy and could not access the knowledge granted by the Tummim. He was forced to rely on the astrological data gained from the Urim, which sufficed, but only if the question was of immediate relevance.

Meaning of name – The name Urim, from the word "אור" relates to the fact that these represent various luminaries. Ralbag implies that Tummim relates to perfection and completion, perhaps because the knowledge gained by focusing on it was more complete.

Plural language – Ibn Ezra suggests that the plural language of "הָאוּרִים" and "הַתֻּמִּים" supports his position as it implies that there were multiple objects placed in the Choshen.

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶל הַחֹשֶׁן אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים" (Vayikra 8:8) – Ibn Ezra points to this verse, too, as support, noting that it implies that Moshe inserted distinct objects into the Choshen.

No description in Shemot 28 and no execution in Shemot 39 – Ramban questions this approach, noting that if the objects were made of gold and silver, as claimed by Ibn Ezra, then they required skilled craftsmanship and the manner of their creation should have been described.  Ibn Ezra might respond that the secrets of the celestial spheres were not known to the artisans and thus only Moshe could form the Urim and Tummim.

Definite article – It is not clear why the Urima nd Tummim are referred to with a definite article.

Color of the robe of the Efod – Ralbag notes hat the robe upon which the Efod and Choshen with the Urim and Tummim rested was sky blue, supporting this position that all was supposed to allude to the celestial spheres.

Divining via the Efod – Ibn Ezra suggests that others might have made Efods similar to that made by Moshe and even though they did not include the Urim and Tummim, if the priest was familiar with the Urim and Tummim made by Moshe, he might imagine it and be able to respond to a questioner.

Second temple times

Lottery

The Urim and Tummim were two objects which functioned as lots, one representing a positive response and the other a negative one.

"הָבָה תָמִים" (Shemuel I 14:41) – This position is based on Shemuel I 14 and the story of the lottery set up by Shaul between his family and the rest of the nation, to determine with whom guilt lay. Shaul says, "הָבָה תָמִים", an allusion to the Urim and Tummim,¹⁷ but what proceeds is a lottery, perhaps implying that the Urim and Tummim itself functioned as one.

Septuagint – Modern scholars support this reading by turning to the Septuagint's version of the verse which have explained the masoretic text in light o fthe Spetagint which has a few added words,

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.

⁴ See also Ralbag and Abarbanel.

⁵ 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".

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

⁷ See also the commentary of his son, R. Avraham b. HaRambamShemot 28:30About R. Avraham Maimonides.

⁸ He does not address the question of what would happen if a reply necessitated one of the letters of the alphabet which did not appear in the names of the tribes that were engraved on the stones..

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ See Rashbam on 28:16.

¹¹ Cf. R. Yochanan in Yoma 63b that the letters protruded.

¹² 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.

¹³ As such, according to him, there is no difference between the function of the Urim and Tummim.

¹⁴ Several centuries before Shadl and Hoil Moshe, the Christian theologian Hugo of Victor wrote similarly, suggestsing that the Urim and Thummim com[rised a series of signs containing various letters which served as a lottery.  When they were cast, a message was spelled.  He writes, "On this account, the lots which were cast in antiquity for the indication of truth were called Urim Thummim. They were signs inscribed with different letters.  When they were cast, it was shown by a combination of the letters visible from above, by a true indication, what ought to be done or evaded." (Annot. elucid.in Pent. 8 (PL, CLXXV, 72, cited and translated by C.V Dam, The Urim and Thummim: A Means of Revelation in Ancient Israel, (Indiana, 1997): 36.)

¹⁵ He writes, "והמספר ידוע בראיות גמורות מהעליון והשפל", alluding to the belief that tehre were twelve constellations, the signs of the zodiac.

¹⁶ See Ibn Ezra Second Commentary Shemot 20:2, 32:32, 33:21, Tehillim 69:29 and elsewhere and Ralbag Milchamot Hashem 5:3.

¹⁷ See R. Avraham b. HaRambamShemot 28:30About R. Avraham Maimonides who reads it this way.