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Hebrew Text
וְלִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן יַעֲמֹד וְשָׁאַל לוֹ בְּמִשְׁפַּט הָאוּרִים לִפְנֵי יְהוָה עַל־פִּיו יֵצְאוּ וְעַל־פִּיו יָבֹאוּ הוּא וְכָל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אִתּוֹ וְכָל־הָעֵדָה׃
English Translation
And he shall stand before El῾azar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of the 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 Yisra᾽el with him, even all the congregation.
Transliteration
Velifnei Elazar hakohen ya'amod vesha'al lo bemishpat ha'urim lifnei Adonai al piv yetze'u ve'al piv yavo'u hu vechol bnei Yisrael ito vechol ha'edah.
Hebrew Leining Text
וְלִפְנֵ֨י אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ יַעֲמֹ֔ד וְשָׁ֥אַל ל֛וֹ בְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הָאוּרִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֨יו יֵצְא֜וּ וְעַל־פִּ֣יו יָבֹ֗אוּ ה֛וּא וְכׇל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אִתּ֖וֹ וְכׇל־הָעֵדָֽה׃
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Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Yoma 73b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the Urim and Thummim and their role in providing divine guidance.
📖 Sotah 48b
The verse is mentioned in the context of discussing the cessation of the Urim and Thummim after the destruction of the First Temple.
The Role of Elazar and the Urim
The verse (Bamidbar 27:21) describes the process by which Yehoshua, as Moshe's successor, would seek divine guidance through Elazar the Kohen Gadol using the Urim v'Tumim. Rashi explains that the phrase "בְּמִשְׁפַּט הָאוּרִים" ("after the judgment of the Urim") refers to the breastplate (Choshen) worn by the Kohen Gadol, which contained the Urim v'Tumim—a means of receiving divine communication. The Rambam (Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 10:11) elaborates that the letters on the Choshen would illuminate in response to inquiries, providing answers from Hashem.
Yehoshua's Dependence on the Kohen Gadol
This verse emphasizes that Yehoshua, despite his leadership role, was required to consult Elazar for divine instruction. The Talmud (Yoma 73b) teaches that this system ensured that even a leader as great as Yehoshua remained subordinate to the word of Hashem as conveyed through the Kohen Gadol. The phrase "עַל־פִּיו יֵצְאוּ וְעַל־פִּיו יָבֹאוּ" ("at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in") underscores the binding nature of the Urim's rulings, as noted by the Sforno—highlighting that national decisions, including military campaigns, required divine approval.
The Collective Responsibility of the Nation
The inclusion of "וְכָל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אִתּוֹ וְכָל־הָעֵדָה" ("all the children of Yisra᾽el with him, even all the congregation") teaches, as the Ramban explains, that the entire nation was bound by the rulings of the Urim. This reflects the principle of communal unity in following divine guidance, as seen in the Midrash Tanchuma (Korach 12), which compares the relationship between the leader, the Kohen Gadol, and the people to a chain of divine authority.
The Urim as a Link to Prophecy
The Ibn Ezra notes that the Urim served as a partial substitute for direct prophecy after Moshe's passing. While Moshe received clear communication from Hashem, subsequent leaders relied on the Kohen Gadol's use of the Urim for guidance. The Radak (in his commentary on Shmuel I 28:6) adds that the Urim functioned only when the Shechinah rested in the Mishkan or Beit HaMikdash and when the nation was spiritually worthy.