The governor told that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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 Thummim.
- BSB The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.
- NKJV And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
- NASB And the governor said to them that they were not to eat from the most holy things until a priest arose with Urim and Thummim.
- NLT The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The governor forbade them to eat the most holy food until a priest could consult God through Urim and Thummim. The matter was left for divine guidance.
Overview
The governor barred these uncertain claimants from the holiest priestly portions until the question could be settled by the sacred lots, the Urim and Thummim. This deferral shows both caution and faith, leaving the decision to God's own determination. The community's reliance on God's verdict reflects a desire to honor His holiness rather than presume upon it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Neh 8:9Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, “Today is holy to Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
- Exod 28:30You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before Yahweh: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before Yahweh continually.
- Neh 10:1Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
- Ezra 2:63The governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to serve with Urim and with Thummim.
- Deut 33:8About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.
- Num 27:21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
- Lev 7:19–20“‘The meat that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the meat, everyone who is clean may eat it;
- Lev 2:10That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a thing most holy of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire.
- Lev 21:21–23No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to offer the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.
- Lev 6:17It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
- Lev 2:3That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a most holy thing of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire.
- Lev 10:17–18“Why haven’t you eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is most holy, and he has given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Yahweh?
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 7:65 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
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