[489] P. Fagius in Exod. 28.
The third degree, was Urim and Thummim. Urim signifieth light, and Thummim perfection. That they were two ornaments in the High-priests brest-plate, is generally agreed upon: but what manner of ornaments, or how they gave answer, is hard to resolve. Some[490] think them to be the four rows of stones in the brest-plate, the splendour and brightness of which foreshewed victory; and by the rule of contraries, we may gather, that the darkness of the stones not shining presaged evil. Others[491] say it was the name Jehovah put in the doubling of the brest-plate, for that was double Exod. 28. 16. Others[492] declare the manner of consulting with Urim and Thummim thus: First, they say[493] that only the King, or else the Father of the Consistory had power to consult, or to propose the matter unto the Priest, and the Priest only had power to resolve. Secondly, that the matter proposed must not be trivial, but of moment and great difficulty. Thirdly, that this holy writing, termed Urim and Thummim, consisted of all the Tribes names, and likewise of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; so that no letter of the Alphabet was wanting. The question being proposed, some say that the letters which gave the answer were כולמות (i.) they did arise and eminently appear above the others. An example they take from 2 Sam. 2. 1. When David asked the Lord, Shall I go up into any of the Cities of Judah? the Lord answered, עלה Gnaleh, go up. Here, say they, ע appeared out of the name of שמעין Schimeon, ל out of the name of לוי Levi, ה out of the name of יהודה Jehudah. Others say, that the letters which represented the Oracle were מצטדפות (i.) that they did after a strange manner joyn themselves into perfect syllables and entire words, and made the answer compleat. Many other opinions might be reckoned up, but he spoke best, who ingenuously confessed that he knew not what Urim and Thummim was.[494]
[490] Joseph. Antiq. l. 3. c. 9.
[491] R. Solom. quemadmodum refert D. Kimchi in radic.
[492] Talmud. in Jonah c. 6. vid. P. Fagium in Exod. 28.
[493] Abbeth din.
[494] R. David in Radic.
The fourth degree was בת קול Bath Kol, filia vocis, the Daughter of a Voice, or an Eccho; by it is meant a voice from heaven declaring the will of God; it took place in the second Temple, when the three former degrees of Prophecy ceased: it gave testimony of our Saviour; Lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3. 17. It was in truth the Prologue, Preface, or type of that true voice of the Father, that eternal word which revealed his Fathers will unto mankind.
These were the extraordinary means by which God revealed himself to his people of old: ordinarily, he revealed himself by his written word. Notwithstanding the Hebrews say, that the Law, even from the first time of its delivery unto Moses, was twofold: the one committed to writing, which they call תורה שבכתב Thora Schebictab, the written Law: the other delivered by tradition, תורה בעל פה Thora begnal pe, it was also termed their Kabbala, from קבל Kibbel, signifying Accipere, to receive or learn. They say both were delivered by God unto Moses in Mount Sinai, but this latter was delivered from Moses to Joshua, from Joshua to the Elders, from the Elders to the Prophets, from the Prophets to those of the great Synagogue, and so successively to after-ages, till at last it was digested into one Book, containing principally precepts and directions for those Israelites which inhabited the holy Land. It is called Talmud Hierosolymitanum. It was composed in the year of our Lord 230. This because it containeth but a few constitutions, is but of little use. About 500 years after Christ, then was there a more full and exact collection of their constitutions, for direction of those Jews which dwelt in Babylon, and other forreign places; this is termed Talmud Babylonicum, and is of greatest use among Authors; it containeth the body of their Civil and Canon Law. This traditional law they hold to be as authentick as their written word, and that Moses received it from God, when he received the Law; for, say they, were it not for this exposition, the Decalogue it self might have been delivered In hora veloci, in less than an hour.[495]
[495] אלח כ שעח Moses Kotsen. in præf.