A Wisdom Archive on Urim

Urimancy
Divination by the observation of urine, either by its color, by its taste, by its flow patterns, or by the patterns formed when it hits the ground or in a swirling bowl.

 
(See also: Urimancy, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul )

Urim (Hebrew, Jewish). See" Thummim". The" Urim and Thummim "originated in Egypt, and symbolized the Two Truths, the two figures of Ra and Thmei being engraved on the breastplate of the Hierophant and worn by him during the initiation ceremonies. Diodorus adds that this necklace of gold and precious stones was worn by the High Priest when delivering judgment. Thme (plural Thmin) means " Truth" in Hebrew. "
 
The Septuagint translates thummim, as Truth " (Bonwick). The late Mr. Proctor, the astronomer, shows the Jewish idea "derived directly from the Egyptians". But Philo Judeus affirms that Urim and Thummim were "the two small images of Revelation and Truth, put between the double folds of the breastplate ", and passes over the latter, with its twelve stones typifying the twelve signs of the Zodiac, without explanation.

 
(See also: Urim, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,  )

Urim and Thummim (in Hebrew Urim VeTumim, אורים ותמים, Tiberian Hebrew ʾÛrîm wəṮummîm, Standard Hebrew אורים ותומים Urim vəTummim; Arabic اوريم وتميم Ūrīm waṮummīm) — typically translated as "lights and perfections" or "revelation and truth" — were a divination medium or process used by ancient Hebrews (usually Israelites) in revealing the will of God on a contested point of view or other problem. Also used to translate ancient manuscripts ... Including:

• Urim and Thummim - Device or process
• Urim and Thummim - Biblical references
• Urim and Thummim - Christian views
• Urim and Thummim - Non-Biblical references
• Urim and Thummim - University References
• Urim and Thummim - External link

Read more here: » Urim and Thummim: Encyclopedia - Urim and Thummim

Because the words Urim and Thummim are plural and in most cases do not connote an object, the device or process could be referred to as Urim and Thummim rather than "the" Urim and Thummim (Hebrew האורים והתמים, Tiberian Hebrew hāʾÛrîm wəhatTummîm, Standard Hebrew האורים והתומים haʾUrim vəhaTummim; Arabic الاوريم و ...

Read more here: » Urim and Thummim: Encyclopedia II - Urim and Thummim - Device or process

The earliest reference to Urim and Thummim in the Hebrew Bible is that Aaron carried them with him as High Priest. Many scholars believe Urim and Thummim were originally stones that resided in the breastplate (with other precious stones) of the Jewish High Priest ceremonial clothing when he officiated in the tabernacle or temple. Upon the death of Aaron and Moses, Joshua was instructed to present himself to the high priest for the counsel of the Urim and Thummim when he wished to consult God. This was in contrast to Moses, who ...

Read more here: » Urim and Thummim: Encyclopedia II - Urim and Thummim - Biblical references

Urim and Thummim play a role in Mormonism. Joseph Smith, Jr. claimed to have used a Urim and Thummim to assist in the translation of the Book of Mormon from metal plates. Smith also reportedly used the medium to assist in receiving divine revelation, such as in dictating some of the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants as well as to facilitate some portions of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. The LDS Bible Dictionary defines an Urim and Thummim as "an instrument prepared of God to assist man in obtai ...

Read more here: » Urim and Thummim: Encyclopedia II - Urim and Thummim - Non-Biblical references

In historic Mormonism, a seer stone is a stone or crystal used by a prophet for receiving revelation from God. Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Church of Christ/Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints reported that in 1827, in response to prayer, he was visited by an angel who revealed the location of a set of ancient records engraved on gold plates, buried on a hillside. He followed the directions to the location, and located a st ...

Read more here: » Seer stone: Encyclopedia II - Seer stone - Seer Stone in Mormonism

Similarities include handshakes, oaths, aprons, beehives, continual reference to breast plate, Urim & Thummim and Melchizedek priest. On May 4, 1842, Smith instructed other LDS Church leaders "in the principles of and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments, and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so onto to the highest order of the Melchizedek Prie ...

Read more here: » Mormonism and Freemasonry: Encyclopedia II - Mormonism and Freemasonry - Connections between Mormonism and Freemasonry

Torah commentators point out that Jethro was the first to suggest to Moses that he divest his legal powers and delegate his power of judgment to lower courts. This situation was formalised later when God gave the explicit command (Deuteronomy 16:18) to "establish judges and officers in your gates". There were three types of courts (Mishnah, tractate Sanhedrin 1:1-4 and 1:6): The Sanhedrin, the grand central court on the Temple Mount, numbering 71 Smaller courts of 23, called a Sanhedrin Ketanaa, a "small Sanhedri ...

Read more here: » Beth din: Encyclopedia II - Beth din - Antiquity

A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: "house of judgment", plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Land of Israel. Today, it is invested with legal powers in a number of religious matters, both in Israel and in Jewish communities throughout the world, where their judgments hold varying degrees of authority (depending upon the jurisdiction and subject matter) in matters specifically germane to Jewish religious life. Beth din - Antiquit ... Including:

• Beth din - Antiquity
• Beth din - Present situation
• Beth din - Officers of a Beth Din

Read more here: » Beth din: Encyclopedia - Beth din

Like Joseph Smith, Strang reported numerous visions, said he translated ancient metal plates using Urim and Thummim, and again like Smith's case, several witnesses asserted they had inspected said plates and thought them genuine. Unlike Smith, however, Strang offered his plates to the curious public for examination. C. Lantham Sholes of the "Southport Telegraph" examined the plates and the area they were said to have been uncovered. Sholes offered no opinion of the metal plates, but described Strang as "honest and earnest" and opined that Strang's followers ranke ...

Read more here: » James Strang: Encyclopedia II - James Strang - Visions translating from plates and revelations

According to Joseph Smith, Jr. and his associates, Smith translated reformed Egyptian characters engraved on Golden Plates into English through various means including the use of an ancient device called the Urim and Thummim which, like the plates, were said to have been eventually returned to the angel named Moroni (or in one version, Moroni's prophet ancestor Nephi) who originally gave them to Smith. Only two possible examples of reformed Egyptian characters currently persist. Only the first is the subject of serious study. Refo ...

Read more here: » Reformed Egyptian: Encyclopedia II - Reformed Egyptian - Examples of Reformed Egyptian