Description
The actual appearance of the Urim and Thummim is not known. Many suggestions have been made, including small black and white stones, or lots in some other form.
Usage
These two objects were somehow used by the High Priest to find out the will of God (see, for example, NUM 27:21; 1SA 14:41; 1SA 28:6). One suggestion is that the breastpiece (see Sacred pocket, breastpiece) served as a kind of pocket into which the Urim and Thummim were placed. Questions were asked of God requiring a yes or no answer, and whichever of the objects was drawn from the pouch indicated the answer.
Translation
Ancient translations (like the Septuagint) tended to translate the Hebrew words ’urim and tumim according to their literal meaning, saying “lights and perfections,” or they rendered them nonfiguratively, saying “perfect revelation” or “complete illumination.” In most modern versions the two words are simply transliterated, but some (Mft, GECL) render the meaning quite adequately with “the sacred lots.” Other languages may have to say “the lots of God.” However these terms are rendered, it is advisable to include a footnote explaining their meaning in greater detail. GNT has the following footnote at EXO 28:30: “urim and thummim: Two objects used by the priest to determine God’s will; it is not known precisely how they were used. ” The CEV footnote on this verse reads “two small objects: The Hebrew text has ‘urim and thummim,’ which may have been made of wood, stone, or metal, and were used in some way to receive answers from God.”
In 1SA 14:41 the Hebrew text uses the word tamim, which has the same letters as tumim but with different vowels. It does not have the word ’urim. The Septuagint has a longer text here, including words corresponding to both ’urim and tumim. For a discussion of the textual problem here and different translation solutions, see A Handbook on The First and Second Books of Samuel, pages 300–301. on of the textual problem here and different translation solutions, see A Handbook on The First and Second Books of Samuel, pages 300–301.