Nehemiah 7:65

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.

And the Tirshatha {H8660} said {H559} unto them, that they should not eat {H398} of the most {H6944} holy things {H6944}, till there stood {H5975} up a priest {H3548} with Urim {H224} and Thummim {H8550}.

The Tirshata told them not to eat any of the especially holy food until a cohen appeared who could consult the urim and tumim.

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

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

Nehemiah 7:65 is a significant verse that highlights the meticulous care taken by the returning exiles to maintain the purity and order of the priesthood and temple service after their return from Babylonian captivity.

Context

This verse is found within a detailed list of those who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, including their families, servants, and animals (Nehemiah 7:6-69). The purpose of this extensive genealogy was to establish legitimate claims to land, status, and especially to the priesthood. Amidst this record, a problem arose: some individuals claimed priestly lineage but could not produce proper documentation, raising questions about their right to serve and partake in sacred provisions. The "Tirshatha," a title for the Persian governor (likely Nehemiah himself, or possibly Zerubbabel, who led an earlier return), issues a decree to address this ambiguity.

Key Themes

  • Maintaining Purity and Holiness: The "most holy things" refers to specific portions of sacrifices and offerings that were designated exclusively for priests who were ceremonially pure and genealogically verified. This strict regulation underscored the sacredness of God's provisions and the importance of distinguishing between the holy and the common. The prohibition protected the sanctity of the temple service.
  • Divine Authority and Guidance: The core of the decree lies in the instruction to wait "till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim." The Urim and Thummim were sacred objects kept in the High Priest's breastplate, used to discern God's direct will and provide infallible guidance on matters of national or religious importance. Their absence during the post-exilic period signified a lack of this direct prophetic revelation, making it impossible to definitively resolve the disputed priestly claims. This points to a reliance on God's future provision for clear direction.
  • Order and Restoration: The verse reflects the community's commitment to re-establishing proper worship and societal order according to divine law. Rather than making hasty decisions, the Tirshatha ensures that the crucial matter of priestly legitimacy would be settled only through God's revealed will, when the means for such revelation (Urim and Thummim) were restored. This parallels the account in Ezra 2:63, which records the same decree.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Tirshatha" (תִּרְשָׁתָא, tirshata') is a Persian loanword, likely meaning "governor" or "excellency," highlighting the administrative authority under Persian rule. The "Urim and Thummim" (אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים, 'Urim ve'Tummim) are typically translated as "lights and perfections." These mysterious objects were integral to the High Priest's role in seeking God's counsel, as detailed in Exodus 28:30. Their mention here underscores the reverence for divine law and the longing for direct divine communication.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 7:65 offers valuable lessons for believers today. It teaches us the importance of patience and discernment when faced with complex issues, especially those concerning spiritual matters or leadership. When clear guidance is not immediately available, it is wise to wait for God's timing and His revealed will, rather than proceeding presumptuously. It also emphasizes the enduring principle of holiness in service to God, reminding us that those who minister must meet His standards and handle sacred things with reverence.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 28:30

    And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

  • Nehemiah 8:9

    ¶ And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

  • Ezra 2:63

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 33:8

    ¶ And of Levi he said, [Let] thy Thummim and thy Urim [be] with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, [and with] whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

  • Nehemiah 10:1

    ¶ Now those that sealed [were], Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,

  • Numbers 27:21

    And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask [counsel] for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, [both] he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

  • Leviticus 2:3

    And the remnant of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron's and his sons': [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

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