\U"rim\, n. [Heb. ?r[=i]m, pl. of ?r, fire ?r light.]
A part or decoration of the breastplate of the high priest
among the ancient Jews, by which Jehovah revealed his will on
certain occasions. Its nature has been the subject of
conflicting conjectures.
      Thou shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim
      and the Thummim.                         --Ex. xxviii.
                                               30.
      And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered
      him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by
      prophets.                                --1 Sam.
                                               xxviii. 6.
Note: Professor Plumptre supposes the Urim to have been a
      clear and colorless stone set in the breastplate of the
      high priest as a symbol of light, answering to the
      mystic scarab in the pectoral plate of the ancient
      Egyptian priests, and that the Thummim was an image
      corresponding to that worn by the priestly judges of
      Egypt as a symbol of truth and purity of motive. By
      gazing steadfastly on these, he may have been thrown
      into a mysterious, half ecstatic state, akin to
      hypnotism, in which he lost all personal consciousness,
      and received a spiritual illumination and insight.