Numbers 27:21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
21 He shall present himself to Eleazar the priest, who will seek for him the decision of the Urim[a] in the Lord’s presence; and as it directs, Joshua, all the Israelites with him, and the whole community will go out for battle; and as it directs, they will come in.
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- 27:21 The Urim: certain sacred objects which Israelite priests employed to discern the divine will, probably by obtaining a positive or negative answer to a given question. The full expression was “the Urim and Thummim”; cf. Ex 28:30; Lv 8:8; Dt 33:8; Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65. Joshua ordinarily did not receive direct revelations from God as Moses had received them.
Deuteronomy 33:8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
8 Of Levi he said:(A)
Give to Levi your Thummim,
your Urim[a] to your faithful one;
Him you tested at Massah,
contended against him at the waters of Meribah.(B)
1 Samuel 14:41-42
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
41 And Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel: “Why did you not answer your servant this time? If the blame for this resides in me or my son Jonathan, Lord, God of Israel, respond with Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, respond with Thummim.”[a] Jonathan and Saul were designated, and the people went free.(A) 42 Saul then said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was designated.
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- 14:41 Urim…Thummim: objects, one representing a positive response and the other a negative response, kept in the front pocket of the priest’s ephod, a garment worn as a breastplate, and used to ascertain God’s will in certain instances, e.g., whether Saul should help rout the Philistines. Saul consults the priest but is too impatient to finish the consultation and hurries impulsively into battle.
1 Samuel 28:6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
6 He consulted the Lord; but the Lord gave no answer, neither in dreams nor by Urim nor through prophets.(A)
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