The Jerusalem Creed: A Sean Wyatt Thriller by Ernest Dempsey

another nod. “We do not condone divination, necromancy, cleromancy, or astrology. Those things are forbidden. But to the ancient Hebrews, divination was the way they sought answers from Yahweh. They occasionally used cleromancy, or lot casting, as well. Only the high priest was permitted to engage those kinds of techniques, and they typically were done prior to a sacrifice, like in the image you see here.” He pointed a finger at the print.
    Sean spoke up again. “You said that they used these objects to seek answers from Yahweh. What kind of answers? I mean, how did it work?”
    Karem took a deep breath and sighed then shrugged. “No one knows for certain. There are many accounts of using the Hoshen with the sacred stones to seek answers to questions. Some histories indicate that the stones were placed on top of the breastplate. When they were positioned correctly, the priest could ask questions, and the Urim or the Thummim would move to a specific jewel.”
    “Wait,” Tommy stopped him. “You mean, like on a Ouija board?”
    “Most certainly not,” Karem sounded defensive for a second. “Those things are strictly forbidden, and related to contacting the forces of darkness. It would be considered necromancy.”
    “I meant no offense,” Tommy sounded apologetic, “but what I meant was, on a Ouija board, people say the thing moves on its own. You’re saying these stones move by themselves?”
    “That was one account, yes. However, the priest did not have to be touching them for the stones to move.”
    Sean had another question. “You said the stones moved to a specific jewel. From what I understand, each jewel represented a tribe of Israel. That would make me think that the questions typically revolved around answers they sought for the tribes? And I thought the priest had to be wearing the thing. If that is the case, how did they move without him holding them?”
    “Typically yes, that would have been the case. In most instances, the high priest needed to know who a scapegoat was, who had done something wrong, or who should receive what reward after a battle. Of course, the moving stones is only one method that was recorded. The priest would have to put the breastplate down on a table to perform the ritual in that manner. The details, however, are extremely sketchy.”
    The two Americans gave a look that urged him to continue.
    “Fine. The other method they used caused the stones to light up. That’s why this artist’s rendering shows a halo of light around the hand holding the darker stone. According to the records, the light effect was more frequently referred to when the priest was asking yes or no questions. If the answer was no, one stone would light up. If it was yes, the other would illuminate. There were also instances where it was said that the other stones on the Hoshen would light up during certain inquisitions. Other than that, there is nothing else I know about the relics.”
    A quiet calm fell over the room once more. Sean and Tommy mulled over the information Karem had given them. It seemed like he was talking about some kind of magic, though the two Americans knew better than to insinuate that. Growing up in a Christian church, both of them had heard all kinds of stories from the Bible . Miracles and unexplainable events were commonplace. Now, the possibility of finding two of the objects that seemed to revolve around something miraculous sent goose bumps across their skin.
    Two more questions still needed answering, though.
    “So,” Sean spoke first, “the question is, who wants these things badly enough that they would kidnap an archaeologist to find them? And second, what do they want with the relics?” 
    Karem answered him. “Nehem must have been looking for these artifacts to preserve their historical value. I do not see why he would do otherwise. However, in the wrong hands, the Hoshen and the sacred stones could be a powerful force.”
    Sean and Tommy paid close attention to