Metaphysical meaning of Urim (mbd)
Urim, u'-rim (Heb.)--radiating principles; lights; illuminations; revelations; shining brilliances; understanding; enlightenments.
The Urim and Thummim are correctly rendered "lights" and "truth," or "revelations" and "truth." The Urim and Thummim (Exod. 28:30; the Lights and the Perfections, margin) were placed in the breastplate of the high priest of the Israelites; by them, in some way, the high priest obtained divine guidance for the people, especially in difficult cases (Exod. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21).
Fallows says that there are two principal opinions respecting the Urim and Thummim. One is that these words simply denote the four rows of precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest, and are so called from their brilliancy and perfection; which stones, in answer to an appeal to God in difficult cases, indicated His mind and will by some supernatural appearance. Thus, as we know that upon each of the stones was to be engraved the name of one of the sons of Jacob, it has been conjectured that the letters forming the divine response became, in some way or other, distinguished from the other letters. It has been conjectured by others that the response was given by an audible voice to the high priest arrayed in full pontificals, and standing in the holy place with his face turned toward the Ark. The other principal opinion is that the Urim and Thummim were two small oracular images, similar to the teraphim, typifying "revelations" and "truth," which were placed in the cavity or pouch formed by the folds of the breastplate, and which uttered oracles by a voice. The latter view is corroborated by the authority of Philo, and seems to be best supported by external evidence.
Meta. The consciousness of divine guidance in any specific matter, when this guidance is sought in prayer; the inner illuminating experiences that one realizes when one seeks God earnestly and with pure, holy, unselfish intent, in the sacred meeting place between God and man, the holy of holies within the innermost of one's being (radiating principles, illuminations, lights, enlightenments, revelations, whole, perfect, sound, verity, truth; devices by which the will of God regarding the Israelitish tribes and people was learned in special cases, by their high priests).
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Preceding Entry: Urijah
Following Entry: Uthai
