Casting Lots in Ancient Israelite Decision-Making Practices
In ancient Israel, casting lots was a recognized method for making decisions and discerning the divine will [1, 2]. The Hebrew word for lot, goral, literally means "pebble," suggesting the use of small stones in this practice [2]. While the exact methods of casting lots are not fully known, it likely involved various techniques, such as placing wooden counters in a jar [1].
The use of lots is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament for significant matters. For instance, lots were cast to divide the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel [2, 13]. This practice was understood to carry divine sanction, especially when performed "before the Lord" at the tabernacle [14]. In the Day of Atonement rituals, Aaron cast lots over two goats to determine which would be sacrificed to Yahweh and which would be the scapegoat [4, 7].
Beyond land distribution and ritual, lots were employed to resolve disputes and identify culprits. Proverbs 18:18 states that "Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents" [3]. This reflects a belief that God would control the outcome to provide a just resolution [1]. A notable example is the detection of Achan's sin, where lots were cast to identify the individual responsible for Israel's defeat [2, 8, 10]. The process involved narrowing down the selection from tribe to family, then to household, and finally to the individual [11]. Even in cases of severe doubt, such as determining the cause of a storm at sea, lots were cast, as seen when the mariners on Jonah's ship used them to identify Jonah as the source of their trouble [2, 5, 8].
The practice was not limited to judicial or administrative functions. Lots were also used for the election of King Saul [2, 6] and for the distribution of priestly offices for temple service [2]. The underlying theological principle was that "The Lord determined how the lots would fall" [9], making it a valid way of seeking God's will [9, 12]. Even non-Israelite cultures, such as the Persians, used lots (called purim) for divination, though the Israelite practice was distinct in its explicit connection to Yahweh's intervention [12].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lot — (literally a pebble). The custom of deciding doubtful questions by lot is one of great extent and high antiquity. Among the Jews lots were used with the expectation that God would so control them as to give a right direction to them. They were very often used by God's appointment. "As to the mode of casting lots, we have no certain information. Probably several modes were practiced." "Very commonly among the Latins little counters of wood were put into a jar with so narrow a neck that only one could come out at a time. After the jar had been filled with water an”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lot — (Heb. goral, a "pebble"), a small stone used in casting lots (Num. 33:54; Jonah 1:7). The lot was always resorted to by the Hebrews with strictest reference to the interposition of God, and as a method of ascertaining the divine will (Prov. 16:33), and in serious cases of doubt (Esther 3:7). Thus the lot was used at the division of the land of Canaan among the serveral tribes (Num. 26:55; 34:13), at the detection of Achan (Josh. 7:14, 18), the election of Saul to be king (1 Sam. 10:20, 21), the distribution of the priestly offices of the temple service (1 Chr. ”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 18:18 (BSB) — Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.”
- Leviticus “Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats; one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat. -- Leviticus 16:8”
- Jonah “Jonah 1:7 (Geneva1599) — And they saide euery one to his fellowe, Come, and let vs cast lottes, that we may know, for whose cause this euill is vpon vs. So they cast lottes, and the lot fell vpon Ionah.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 4, section 4: disposition when God advances men to great prosperity, but they are still ill-natured and envious at those that are in eminent stations. 4. Then Samuel called the people together to the city Mizpeh, and spake to them in the words following, which he said he was to speak by the command of God:—That when he had granted them a state of liberty, and brought their enemies into subjection, they were become unmindful of his benefits, and rejected God that he should not be their King, as not considering that it would be most for their ad”
- Leviticus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Leviticus 16:8: And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats,.... Which should be slain, and which should be kept alive, and let go: the manner of casting lots, according to the Misnah (a), was this; the high priest went to the east of the court, to the north of the altar, the Sagan (or deputy priest) at his right hand, and Rosh Beth Ab (or the chief of the house of the fathers) on his left hand, and the two goats were there; and there was a vessel (box or urn, called Calphi), and in it were two lots of box tree: the high priest shook the Calphi (or urn) and took out the two lots;”
- Jonah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jonah 1:7: cast lots--God sometimes sanctioned this mode of deciding in difficult cases. Compare the similar instance of Achan, whose guilt involved Israel in suffering, until God revealed the offender, probably by the casting of lots (; ). Primitive tradition and natural conscience led even the heathen to believe that one guilty man involves all his associates, though innocent, in punishment. So CICERO [The Nature of the Gods, 3.37] mentions that the mariners sailing with Diagoras, an atheist, attributed a storm that overtook them to his presence in the ship (comp”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 18:18: 18:18 Flipping a coin (literally Casting lots): Casting lots was a valid way of seeking God’s will (Num 27:21; Josh 18:6-10). The Lord determined how the lots would fall (Prov 16:33).”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 7:19: I beseech you, give honor. Ochan began to defame the casting of lots. 17 As a means of establishing guilt. He said to Yehoshua, “On the basis of casting lots, Are you accusing me? You and Elozer, the Kohein, are the greatest of the generation. If a lot was cast between you, it would certainly fall on one of you.” 18 Therefore lots are not a definitive method of reaching a decision. Yehoshua then said to him, ‘I beseech you, give honor, (etc).’ “I ask you, please do not defame the method of casting lots, for this is the way the land will ultimately”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 7:17: And when he brought near the family of Yehudah. To the initial casting of lots he brought the heads of families near, one man from each family, and they cast lots [to see] on whom it would fall. Afterwards lots were cast on each household— one man from each household came to the casting of lots, and then came all the men of that particular household.”
- Esther (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Esther 3:7: 3:7 lots were cast . . . (the lots were called purim): Throwing the purim was like throwing dice. The Hebrews used lots from time to time to understand God’s will (Lev 16:8-10; Neh 10:34). Persian astrologers used purim in the first month of the year to determine which days that year would bring good fortune.”
- Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 14:2: By lot was their inheritance - Concerning the meaning and use of the lot, see the note on Num 26:55; and concerning the manner of casting lots in the case of the scapegoat, see the note on Lev 16:8, Lev 16:9. On this subject Dr. Dodd has selected some good observations from Calmet and Masius, which I here borrow: "Though God had sufficiently pointed out by the predictions of Jacob when dying, and those of Moses, what portions he designed for each tribe, we readily discern an admirable proof of his wisdom in the orders he gave to decide them by lot. By this means the”
- Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 18:10: DIVIDED BY LOT. (Jos 18:10) Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord--before the tabernacle, where the divine presence was manifested, and which associated with the lot the idea of divine sanction.”