Ezra 2:63

Translations

Modern

The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

Traditional

And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

Literal

And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat from the holy of holies until a priest stood for Urim and for Thummim.

Latin

Et dixit Athersatha eis ut non comederent de Sancto sanctorum, donec surgeret sacerdos doctus atque perfectus.

Original

Hebrew

English

The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

Notes

Ezra 2:61–63

they could not find them: The lack of a genealogy was a problem for three families (Ezra 2:61–62). They were excluded from priestly privileges or responsibilities until the high priest received divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim to know God's will (see Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21). Although using the Urim and Thummim was like throwing dice or drawing straws, when done by the priest, the result was a divine decision, not random chance.

Ezra 2:1–70

This chapter is Ezra's first major digression from the main story. The returning exiles needed to identify true Jews to maintain their community identity and theological purity. This helped them know whom they could marry and who could worship at the temple. This list is not the initial list of all Jews who returned to Jerusalem (compare Nehemiah 7:6–73). Instead, it is a slightly later list, created after Sheshbazzar died, of people who had settled in their towns.

Theme notes and profiles

Esther Zerubbabel

Related verses

Leviticus 2:3
The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
Numbers 27:21
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
Exodus 28:30
And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
Leviticus 2:10
But the remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
Leviticus 22:10
No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it.
Nehemiah 8:9
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.
Deuteronomy 33:8
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
Numbers 18:32
Once you have presented the best part of it, you will not incur guilt because of it. But you must not defile the sacred offerings of the Israelites, or else you will die.’”
Leviticus 22:14–16
If anyone eats a sacred offering in error, he must add a fifth to its value and give the sacred offering to the priest.
Nehemiah 7:65
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.
1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Nehemiah 10:1
Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,

Parallels

Nehemiah 7:4–69

People

Thummim: Objects used with the Urim for divine guidance Urim: Objects used with the Thummim for divine guidance

Glossary

Agia Attharias Book of Ezra Census Ephod (Garment) First Book of Esdras Genealogy Governor Singer Tirshatha Urim and Thummim

Topics

Levites: The List of Those Who Returned from Captivity Tirshatha: A Title of Persian Governors Urim and Thummim were Wanting in the Second Temple Urim and Thummim: Only Priests Could Interpret

Ezra 2:63

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