1 esdras 5:40 - for to them said Nehemias and Attharias, that they should not be partakers of the holy things, till there arose up a high priest wearing Urim and Thummim.
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What does "1 esdras 5:40" mean?
This verse from 1 Esdras 5:40 refers to a period after the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. Nehemias (likely Nehemiah) and Attharias (likely a title like "governor," possibly referring to Zerubbabel) were leaders tasked with rebuilding the temple and restoring Jewish religious life.
The key point of the verse is the restriction placed on certain individuals:
"For to them said Nehemias and Attharias..." This establishes the authority behind the instruction. Nehemiah and likely Zerubbabel, as leaders, were setting rules for the restored community.
"...that they should not be partakers of the holy things..." This means these individuals were forbidden from participating in sacred rituals and sacrifices. "Holy things" could refer to offerings, temple services, or consuming sacred food.
"...till there arose up a high priest wearing Urim and Thummim." This sets the condition for their exclusion to be lifted. The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects, possibly stones or oracles, that were used by the high priest in ancient Israel to discern God's will (a form of divine divination). They were kept in the breastplate of the high priest.
The Meaning and Context:
The verse indicates that there was uncertainty or a lack of clarity about the lineage or qualifications of certain individuals. Perhaps there were questions about their Jewish ancestry, their ritual purity, or their right to participate in temple activities.
Because the Urim and Thummim were no longer functioning or available at that time (or their use had been lost), Nehemiah and Zerubbabel postponed a decision on the status of these individuals. They deferred it to a hypothetical future when a high priest might again be able to use the Urim and Thummim to determine God's will regarding their eligibility. This demonstrates a reliance on ancient traditions and a desire to make decisions according to divine guidance.
In summary, the verse reflects a cautious approach to restoring religious practices after a period of exile. The leaders wanted to ensure that only those who were truly qualified participated in sacred rituals, and they hoped for divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim to resolve any doubts about people's legitimacy to participate in temple service.
It is worth noting that the Book of 1 Esdras is considered deuterocanonical (apocryphal) and is not part of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament as accepted by most Protestant denominations. However, it is considered canonical by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
1 esdras 5:40 - for to them said Nehemias and Attharias, that they should not be partakers of the holy things, till there arose up a high priest wearing Urim and Thummim.
What does "1 esdras 5:40" mean?
This verse from 1 Esdras 5:40 refers to a period after the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. Nehemias (likely Nehemiah) and Attharias (likely a title like "governor," possibly referring to Zerubbabel) were leaders tasked with rebuilding the temple and restoring Jewish religious life.
The key point of the verse is the restriction placed on certain individuals:
"For to them said Nehemias and Attharias..." This establishes the authority behind the instruction. Nehemiah and likely Zerubbabel, as leaders, were setting rules for the restored community.
"...that they should not be partakers of the holy things..." This means these individuals were forbidden from participating in sacred rituals and sacrifices. "Holy things" could refer to offerings, temple services, or consuming sacred food.
"...till there arose up a high priest wearing Urim and Thummim." This sets the condition for their exclusion to be lifted. The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects, possibly stones or oracles, that were used by the high priest in ancient Israel to discern God's will (a form of divine divination). They were kept in the breastplate of the high priest.
The Meaning and Context:
The verse indicates that there was uncertainty or a lack of clarity about the lineage or qualifications of certain individuals. Perhaps there were questions about their Jewish ancestry, their ritual purity, or their right to participate in temple activities.
Because the Urim and Thummim were no longer functioning or available at that time (or their use had been lost), Nehemiah and Zerubbabel postponed a decision on the status of these individuals. They deferred it to a hypothetical future when a high priest might again be able to use the Urim and Thummim to determine God's will regarding their eligibility. This demonstrates a reliance on ancient traditions and a desire to make decisions according to divine guidance.
In summary, the verse reflects a cautious approach to restoring religious practices after a period of exile. The leaders wanted to ensure that only those who were truly qualified participated in sacred rituals, and they hoped for divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim to resolve any doubts about people's legitimacy to participate in temple service.
It is worth noting that the Book of 1 Esdras is considered deuterocanonical (apocryphal) and is not part of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament as accepted by most Protestant denominations. However, it is considered canonical by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.