Subtitle: Tools of divine inquiry or occult divination?

Excerpt: The Urim and Thummim, stones used by the High Priest in ancient Israel, were believed to be tools of divine revelation, not divination. Their use ceased after the Babylonian exile. Today we have the Bible as our guide.

Author: Debra Hodges

Introduction

God takes sin, repentance, and worshipping Him very seriously. Several whole books of the Bible describe how the Israelites were to do this. (See Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). From detailed instructions on how to construct the Tabernacle and Holy of Holies, to prescribing the exact colors and types of thread to be used to weave the priestly garments, to the precise dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant, God impressed upon His people that His Holiness was to be revered.

Of the twelve tribes of Israel, the Levites were the tribe dedicated to performing strict rituals to atone for the people’s sins, such as sacrificing unblemished lambs, goats, and bulls to the Lord. They also had a High Priest who was the only person allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle (the holy tent that housed the Ark of the Covenant) once per year. Whole chapters in the Old Testament are dedicated to describing the precise detail of the clothing he was supposed to wear, including a jeweled breastplate and two special stones called the Urim and Thummim.

Background

The first time these two stones are mentioned in the Bible is in Exodus 28:15. God told Moses to put them in Aaron’s breastplate before he entered the Holy of Holies. This was to ensure that the Urim and Thummim were over his heart whenever he needed to make decisions for the Israelites in accordance with God’s will.

Urim(אוּרִים‎) relates to divine light, truth, and Thummim(תוּמִים‎) relates to perfection, which symbolizes the clarity and perfection of God’s revealed will. [1] They are also mentioned in the following Scriptures: Leviticus 8:8, Numbers 27:21, Deuteronomy 33:8, 1 Samuel 28:6, and Ezra 2:63. The high priest used them to ask God about military decisions, the appointment of leaders, and the determination of guilty parties. He would receive the divine answer in one of the following ways: by casting them as lots, by glowing letters engraved on them, or by the appearance of a miraculous light. [2]

So, is this divination?

It might seem as if this ancient practice of a high priest trying to discern God’s will in various matters borders on the occult practice of divination. God strictly forbids divination (trying to foretell the future) in Deuteronomy 18:10–14, Leviticus 19:26, 1 Samuel 15:23, and 2 Kings 17:17. But is it really the same thing? No, because there are several key differences between the two. They are fundamentally different in purpose, authority, and worldview.

When the high priest used the Urim and Thummim to determine God’s will in important national matters, he knew that it was not magic. It was a covenant-based means of divine revelation since God Himself controlled the answer. He humbly submitted himself to God and accepted whatever God’s answer was instead of trying to manipulate the outcome. People who practice divination are attempting to control the spiritual realm.

What happened to them?

Early in King David’s reign, the Urim and Thummim were used by the high priest Abiathar (within the Ephod he wore) to ask the Lord whether the citizens of Keilah would surrender him and his men to Saul (1 Samuel 23:9–12). Rabbinic sources, such as the Mishnah and Talmud, believe their use ceased during the Babylonian exile of the Jews. [3]

Biblical evidence in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah suggests they were lost or nonfunctional after the Jews returned to Jerusalem, following their exile in Babylon.

Scholars such as Cornelis Van Dam, in his work, The Urim and Thummim: Their Role in the Old Testament, believe their use ended with the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. After that, God provided direct revelation through the prophets. [4]

The Jewish historian Josephus believed they continued to function until the Maccabean era, ending around 104 BCE. In Maimonides’ view (a prolific and influential Torah scholar in the Middle Ages), they existed in the Second Temple era but no longer functioned because the priests lacked the presence of the Holy Spirit. [5]

Joseph Smith, of the LDS Church, said the Urim and Thummim and the Golden Plates were initially taken by the Angel Moroni in June 1828 after the loss of 116 pages in the Book of Mormon. They were returned to him in September of that year, but were then removed permanently by the Angel Moroni after the Book of Mormon was completely translated in 1829. [6]

Conclusion

In ancient times, Israel needed a structured way to discern God’s will. The Urim and Thummim were used by the high priest to obtain God’s divine guidance and symbolized their dependence on Him. They pointed forward to something greater, the true light and perfection of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the final High Priest. (John 8:12)

References

1. Wikipedia contributors. (2026, February 16). Urim and thummim. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim.

2. McDonnell, E., & Van Dam, C. (2024). Urim and thummim. Bible Odyssey. https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/urim-and-thummim/.

3. Ancient Jewish History: The Urim & Thummim. (n.d.). Jewish Virtual Library. https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-urim-and-thummim

4. The Urim and Thummim: A Means of Revelation in Ancient Israel by Cornelis Van Dam. (n.d.). https://www.eisenbrauns.org/books/titles/978-0-931464-83-6.html

5. Wikipedia contributors. (2026, February 16). Urim and thummim. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim

6. Wikipedia contributors. (2026, January 16). Urim and Thummim (Latter Day Saints). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim_(Latter_Day_Saints)