ויקרא, פרק ח׳, פסוק ח׳

Dressing the High Priest in his sacred garments reaches its peak when the Breastplate is placed over his heart. This action involves a precise sequence and holds deep spiritual secrets. A practical issue arises regarding how this was done, since the Breastplate and the Ephod were already permanently attached to one another during their creation, and it is forbidden to separate them. The primary approach among commentators is that this event serves to teach the exact order of dressing for all future generations. Moses arranged the garments so that the belt of the Ephod was tied securely underneath the Breastplate [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective adds that initially, the Breastplate simply hung loosely from the shoulders. Only after the Ephod was firmly tied did Moses adjust the Breastplate, securing its lower section so that it sat completely stable against the chest [העמק דבר].

Once the Breastplate was firmly in place, the Urim and Thummim were inserted inside it. The exact nature of these items is the subject of much discussion. One line of thought takes a mystical approach, viewing them as the inner secret of the Breastplate [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. According to this view, they consisted of a parchment bearing the explicit name of God [רש״י, רבנו בחיי]. Through the power of this divine name, the High Priest achieved a state of holy inspiration. This spiritual level was lower than full prophecy but higher than a heavenly voice. Unlike a prophet, who loses ordinary physical sensation during a vision, the High Priest remained fully conscious. A higher spirit would awaken within him, placing the correct answers directly onto his tongue [רבנו בחיי].

A contrasting approach offers a more practical explanation. In this view, the Urim and Thummim were not permanent fixtures of the Breastplate but were placed inside only when the High Priest dressed for their specific use. They may have been twenty-two small pieces of wood or metal, each engraved with a letter of the alphabet. When seeking guidance, the High Priest would draw letters from the Breastplate. Under the direct supervision of God, these letters would combine to form a clear answer. Following this logic, the name Urim is derived from the first letter of the alphabet, which hints at the word for light, while Thummim comes from the final letter, hinting at the word for complete [שד״ל].