@article{ART001672134},
author={SEUNG IL KANG},
title={The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination},
journal={Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies},
issn={1229-0521},
year={2012},
volume={18},
number={2},
pages={112-135},
doi={10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112}
TY - JOUR
AU - SEUNG IL KANG
TI - The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination
JO - Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
PY - 2012
VL - 18
IS - 2
PB - Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
SP - 112
EP - 135
SN - 1229-0521
AB - The Urim and Thummim were sanctioned as the official means of divination in ancient Israel. Whereas many studies have delved into the meaning and nature of the Urim and Thummim, there is a significant lack of studies on the possibility that other tools of the priests were used in divination.
This essay argues that the Ephod and the Ark of the Covenant along with Urim and Thummim once functioned as tools for priestly divination in the early history of ancient Israel. It is worth noting that Deuteronomy and the Priestly source remain silent on the divinatory function of the Ephod and the Ark. It is suggested that the Ephod was originally a garment for the cult images of the divine used in divination, but later reduced as one of the priestly garments due to the aniconic tendency of normative Yahwism. In a similar fashion, the Ark of the Covenant became simply an wooden receptacle in which the tablets of the covenant were kept.
We do not know for sure how these divinatory tools were used. It appears that the Urim and Thummim were used to determine one's culpability. As for the use of the Ark in divination, the earlier strata clearly show that the Ark was once a war oracle. It is more difficult to articulate the way the Ephod played a role in divination. Chances are that the divination through the Ephod was employed in some general questions that can be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
KW - Urim and Thummim;Ephod;The Ark of the Covenant;Divination;Aniconism
DO - 10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
ER -
SEUNG IL KANG. (2012). The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 18(2), 112-135.
SEUNG IL KANG. 2012, "The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination", Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, vol.18, no.2 pp.112-135. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
SEUNG IL KANG "The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 18.2 pp.112-135 (2012) : 112.
SEUNG IL KANG. The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination. 2012; 18(2), 112-135. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
SEUNG IL KANG. "The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 18, no.2 (2012) : 112-135.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
SEUNG IL KANG. The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 18(2), 112-135. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
SEUNG IL KANG. The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies. 2012; 18(2) 112-135. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
SEUNG IL KANG. The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination. 2012; 18(2), 112-135. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
SEUNG IL KANG. "The Urim and Thummim, the Ephod, and the Ark of the Covenant: Tools for Priestly Divination" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 18, no.2 (2012) : 112-135.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2012.18.2.112
