Nehemiah 7:65 - The governor told that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.
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What does "Nehemiah 7:65" mean?
This verse in Nehemiah 7:65 is referring to a situation where the returned exiles are attempting to reconstruct their society and religious practices after the Babylonian captivity. The passage is about determining the legitimacy of certain people who claimed to be priests but could not prove their lineage (Nehemiah 7:63-65).
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"The governor": Refers to Nehemiah himself, who was appointed governor of the province of Judah by the Persian King Artaxerxes. He was tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem and re-establishing the Jewish community.
"told that they should not eat of the most holy things": "Most holy things" (Hebrew: qodesh qodashim) refers to the portions of offerings and tithes that were reserved exclusively for the priests and their families. These were considered sacred provisions meant to sustain the priestly class. If these families are unable to prove themselves as priests, they are unable to eat of the most holy things.
"until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim": This is the key part of the verse. The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects, likely some form of lots or divination tools, that were kept in the breastplate of the High Priest. They were used to seek divine guidance or judgment in difficult cases when a clear answer was needed. There is no longer a High Priest to seek the Urin and Thummim from.
In essence, the verse means:
Nehemiah, recognizing that the priestly lineage of certain individuals was uncertain, ruled that they were temporarily barred from receiving the special food reserved for priests. This restriction would remain in place until a priest could legitimately consult the Urim and Thummim and receive divine confirmation of their priestly status.
Significance:
Importance of lineage: The verse highlights the importance of proper priestly lineage and qualifications in the restored Jewish community. They were meticulous about ensuring that only those with legitimate claims to the priesthood could perform the sacred duties and receive the associated privileges.
Loss of a tradition: The verse highlights a challenge the returned exiles faced: The Urim and Thummim were apparently no longer available or functional. This meant they had lost a direct means of divine guidance, and they had to rely on other methods like studying the Torah, seeking wise counsel, and relying on prophetic insight (if available). This verse indicates that the Urim and Thummim were lost during the Babylonian exile and were never recovered or replaced in the Second Temple period.
Temporary Solution: The governor realized they were unable to discern the legitimacy of the priests. So, he created a temporary solution until a legitimate priest could consult the Urim and Thummim.
The situation described in Nehemiah 7:65 underscores the challenges faced by the returned exiles in rebuilding their community and re-establishing their religious practices after the exile. They were striving to restore the traditions of the past, but they had to navigate uncertainties and the absence of key elements like the Urim and Thummim.
Nehemiah 7:65 - The governor told that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.
What does "Nehemiah 7:65" mean?
This verse in Nehemiah 7:65 is referring to a situation where the returned exiles are attempting to reconstruct their society and religious practices after the Babylonian captivity. The passage is about determining the legitimacy of certain people who claimed to be priests but could not prove their lineage (Nehemiah 7:63-65).
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"The governor": Refers to Nehemiah himself, who was appointed governor of the province of Judah by the Persian King Artaxerxes. He was tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem and re-establishing the Jewish community.
"told that they should not eat of the most holy things": "Most holy things" (Hebrew: qodesh qodashim) refers to the portions of offerings and tithes that were reserved exclusively for the priests and their families. These were considered sacred provisions meant to sustain the priestly class. If these families are unable to prove themselves as priests, they are unable to eat of the most holy things.
"until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim": This is the key part of the verse. The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects, likely some form of lots or divination tools, that were kept in the breastplate of the High Priest. They were used to seek divine guidance or judgment in difficult cases when a clear answer was needed. There is no longer a High Priest to seek the Urin and Thummim from.
In essence, the verse means:
Nehemiah, recognizing that the priestly lineage of certain individuals was uncertain, ruled that they were temporarily barred from receiving the special food reserved for priests. This restriction would remain in place until a priest could legitimately consult the Urim and Thummim and receive divine confirmation of their priestly status.
Significance:
Importance of lineage: The verse highlights the importance of proper priestly lineage and qualifications in the restored Jewish community. They were meticulous about ensuring that only those with legitimate claims to the priesthood could perform the sacred duties and receive the associated privileges.
Loss of a tradition: The verse highlights a challenge the returned exiles faced: The Urim and Thummim were apparently no longer available or functional. This meant they had lost a direct means of divine guidance, and they had to rely on other methods like studying the Torah, seeking wise counsel, and relying on prophetic insight (if available). This verse indicates that the Urim and Thummim were lost during the Babylonian exile and were never recovered or replaced in the Second Temple period.
Temporary Solution: The governor realized they were unable to discern the legitimacy of the priests. So, he created a temporary solution until a legitimate priest could consult the Urim and Thummim.
The situation described in Nehemiah 7:65 underscores the challenges faced by the returned exiles in rebuilding their community and re-establishing their religious practices after the exile. They were striving to restore the traditions of the past, but they had to navigate uncertainties and the absence of key elements like the Urim and Thummim.