Exodus 28:30 - The Breastpiece

And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment
The Urim and Thummim were mysterious objects used for divination, often associated with the high priest's breastpiece, also known as the breastplate of judgment. These objects were used to discern God's will in specific situations, reflecting the importance of divine guidance in Israelite leadership. The exact nature and appearance of the Urim and Thummim are unknown, but they were integral to the priestly garments, symbolizing the need for righteous judgment and decision-making. The breastpiece itself was a sacred garment, richly adorned and signifying the high priest's role as a mediator between God and the people.

so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD
The placement of the Urim and Thummim over Aaron's heart emphasizes the connection between the high priest's duties and his inner life. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. By carrying these objects over his heart, Aaron was reminded of the weighty responsibility of seeking God's will with sincerity and integrity. This act symbolizes the need for leaders to carry the concerns of the people with compassion and truthfulness when approaching God.

Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD
Aaron, as the high priest, served as an intermediary between God and the Israelites. His role involved not only performing rituals but also representing the people's needs and sins before God. The phrase "carry the judgment" indicates the ongoing responsibility of the high priest to seek divine guidance and justice for the nation. This continual act underscores the perpetual need for atonement and intercession, foreshadowing the ultimate high priest, Jesus Christ, who carries the sins of humanity and intercedes on their behalf. The high priest's role points to the greater priesthood of Christ, who fulfills and perfects the mediation between God and humanity.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He is tasked with wearing the breastpiece of judgment, which includes the Urim and Thummim, as he enters the presence of the LORD.

2. Urim and Thummim
Objects placed in the breastpiece of judgment, used for divination or decision-making. Their exact nature is unknown, but they were a means for the high priest to discern God's will.

3. Breastpiece of Judgment
A sacred garment worn by the high priest, containing the Urim and Thummim, symbolizing the priest's role in seeking God's guidance for the people.

4. Presence of the LORD
Refers to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, where God's presence dwelt, and where the high priest would enter to perform his duties.

5. Israelites
The chosen people of God, for whom Aaron, as high priest, would seek divine guidance using the Urim and Thummim.

Teaching Points

The Role of the High Priest
Aaron's role as high priest was to mediate between God and the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of spiritual leadership in seeking God's will.

Seeking Divine Guidance
The Urim and Thummim symbolize the need for believers to seek God's guidance in decision-making, reminding us to prioritize prayer and discernment.

Heart of the Matter
The placement of the Urim and Thummim over Aaron's heart signifies the importance of aligning our hearts with God's will when making decisions.

Symbolism of the Breastpiece
The breastpiece represents the weight of responsibility carried by spiritual leaders, encouraging us to pray for and support those in leadership.

God's Presence and Guidance
Just as Aaron entered the presence of the LORD for guidance, believers are called to seek God's presence through prayer and scripture for direction in their lives.

(30) Thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim.--Comp. Leviticus 8:8. The expression used is identical with that employed in Exodus 25:15; Exodus 25:21 with respect to putting the Two Tables into the Ark of the Covenant, and can scarcely have any other meaning than the literal placing of one thing inside another. It has been already shown (see Note on Exodus 28:16) that the breastplate was a bag, and so capable of being used as a receptacle. The words "Urim and Thummim" mean literally, "lights and perfections," or, if the plural be one of dignity, "light and perfection" (Aquila and Symmachus translate by ???????? ??? ???????????; the LXX., by ? ??????? ??? ? ???????; the Vulg. by doctrina et veritas). The question arises, what do these two words, as here used, designate? Do they designate material objects; if so, what objects? In favour of their designating material objects are (1) the expressions, "thou shalt put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim," "they shall be upon Aaron's heart," "he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim" (Leviticus 8:8); (2) the fact that the words are accompanied by the article, on this, the first mention of them, as if they were familiar objects, well known at the time to the people generally; and (3) the explanations of Philo and Josephus, which, while they differ in all other respects, agree in this, that material objects are intended. But, if so, what objects? The two sides of the breastplate, says Philo (De Monarch., ii. 5). But these were not "put in" the breastplate after it was complete, as implied in Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8. The twelve jewels, says Josephus; but the present passage, taken in conjunction with Exodus 28:17-21, distinguishes the Urim and Thummim from them. Some small objects which the bag of the breastplate could hold, and with which the people had long been familiar, can alone answer the requirements of the case. Most modern critics are thus far agreed; but when the further question is asked, what were these objects? The greatest difference appears. Diamonds, cut and uncut; slips of metal, marked with "yes" and "no"; lots, of some kind or other; and small images, like the teraphim (Genesis 31:19), are among the suggestions. A very slight examination of the arguments by which these various views are supported is sufficient to show that certainty on the subject is unattainable. Probability, however, seems on the whole to be in favour of a connection between divination by teraphim and consultation of God by Urim and Thummim (Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14; Judges 18:17; Judges 18:20; Hosea 3:4), whence it is reasonable to conclude that the Urim and Thummim were small images, by which God had been consulted in the past, and by which Moses was now authorised to state that He would be consulted in the future. How the consultation was made, and the decision given, is a question still more obscure than that which has been just considered, and one which seems to the present writer to admit of no solution. The reader who is curious upon the point may be referred to Dean Plumptre's article on "Urim and Thummim," in Dr. W. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, where the views propounded are ingenious, if not altogether satisfactory. . . .

Verse 30. - Thou shalt put in the breast-plate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim. The words Urim and Thummim mean respectively "Lights "and" Perfections," or perhaps "Light" and "Perfection - the plural form being merely a plural of honour. They were well translated by Aquila and Symmachus, φωτισμοὶ καὶ τελειότητες: less well by the LXX. ἡ δήλωσις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια: still worse by the Vulgate, Doctrina et Veritas. What exactly the two words represented is doubtful in the extreme. It has been supposed by some that they were not material objects, but a method by which God communicated his will; e.g., a miraculous light, or a miraculous voice. But such things as these could not have been put by Moses either "in," or "on the breastplate of judgment." Modern critics are generally agreed that the Urim and Thummim must have been material objects of one kind or another. The objects suggested are -

1. The engraved stones of the breast-plate.

2. Two small images, like the teraphim.

3. A gold plate, engraved with the name of Jehovah. . . . Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And place
וְנָתַתָּ֞ (wə·nā·ṯa·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the Urim
הָאוּרִים֙ (hā·’ū·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 224: Part of the high priest's breastplate

and Thummim
הַתֻּמִּ֔ים (hat·tum·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8550: Perfections

in
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the breastpiece
חֹ֣שֶׁן (ḥō·šen)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2833: A pocket, rich, the gorget of the highpriest

of judgment,
הַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט (ham·miš·pāṭ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

so that they will also be
וְהָיוּ֙ (wə·hā·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Aaron’s
אַהֲרֹ֔ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

heart
לֵ֣ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

whenever he comes
בְּבֹא֖וֹ (bə·ḇō·’ōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Aaron
אַ֠הֲרֹן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

will continually
תָּמִֽיד׃ (tā·mîḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 8548: Continuance, constant, ellipt, the regular, sacrifice

carry
וְנָשָׂ֣א (wə·nā·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the judgment
מִשְׁפַּ֨ט (miš·paṭ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

of the sons
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his heart
לִבּ֛וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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