Last Use Of Casting Lots In Biblical Decision
The practice of casting lots, a method for discerning divine will or making decisions, appears throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament, with its final biblical mention occurring in the book of Acts [1, 2]. This ancient custom involved using small stones or other objects, often with the belief that God would supernaturally control their outcome to reveal His intentions [1, 2, 6].
In the Old Testament, casting lots served various significant purposes. It was employed in the division of the land of Canaan among the Israelite tribes (Numbers 26:55; 34:13; Joshua 18:6-10) [1, 7]. The detection of Achan's sin after the fall of Jericho was also accomplished through lots (Joshua 7:14, 18), a method that Achan initially attempted to discredit [1, 5, 8]. The selection of Saul as Israel's first king involved casting lots (1 Samuel 10:20-21) [1]. Furthermore, lots were used to distribute priestly offices for temple service (1 Chronicles 24:5, 31) [1]. On the Day of Atonement, Aaron cast lots over two goats to determine which would be sacrificed and which would be sent into the wilderness as the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:8) [9]. The book of Proverbs explicitly states, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33), indicating a clear theological understanding that God directed the outcome [1, 6].
The New Testament also records instances of casting lots. Perhaps the most well-known occurrence is during the crucifixion of Jesus, when the soldiers cast lots for his seamless garment (John 19:24). This act was recognized by early Christian writers, including Augustine, as a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18, "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots" [3, 10]. The soldiers, unaware of the prophetic significance, were nevertheless guided by divine providence in their actions [10].
The final recorded instance of casting lots in the Bible is found in Acts 1:23-26. After Judas Iscariot's betrayal and death, the remaining eleven apostles sought to choose a replacement to restore their number to twelve, fulfilling the scriptural requirement for a witness to Jesus' resurrection (Acts 1:22). Peter outlined the qualifications for the new apostle, and two men were nominated: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. The apostles then prayed, asking the Lord to show them which of the two He had chosen. Following their prayer, they cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, who was then added to the eleven apostles.
This event in Acts 1 marks the last time casting lots is explicitly described as a method for discerning God's will in the biblical narrative. Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which occurs shortly after Matthias's selection in Acts 2, the method of discerning God's will appears to shift. The apostles and early Christians subsequently relied on the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, prophecy, and communal discernment rather than lots. For example, decisions regarding missionary journeys (Acts 13:2), doctrinal disputes (Acts 15), and the appointment of elders (Acts 14:23) are made through prayer, fasting, and the Spirit's leading, without any further mention of casting lots.
Theological perspectives on casting lots vary. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent scholastic theologian, discussed the lawfulness of divination by lots. He distinguished between "sortilege of allotment," used to determine who receives what (e.g., possessions, honors), and other forms of sortilege aimed at knowing what ought to be done. Aquinas generally considered sortilege unlawful if it involved invoking demons or was used in matters that should be decided by reason or divine law. However, he acknowledged that lots could be used lawfully when seeking to know God's will in matters not otherwise revealed, provided it was done with reverence and without superstition [4].
Rabbinic tradition also engaged with the practice. Rashi, a medieval French rabbi, commented on Achan's attempt to discredit the casting of lots in Joshua 7. Achan argued that if lots were cast between Joshua and Eleazar, the high priest, one of them would inevitably be implicated, suggesting the method was not definitive. Joshua, however, rebuked Achan, affirming the legitimacy of lots as a means by which the land would ultimately be divided [5]. This exchange highlights the ancient debate regarding the reliability and divine sanction of the practice.
The cessation of casting lots as a decision-making tool after Pentecost suggests a transition in divine guidance. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers, direct spiritual discernment became the primary means for understanding God's will, rendering the older method of lots less central to the life of the church.
Sources
- 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. ”
- 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”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XII.--OF THE CONCORD PRESERVED AMONG ALL THE FOUR EVANGELISTS ON THE SUBJECT OF THE PARTING OF HIS RAIMENT.: 39. Matthew goes on thus: "And after they crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots: and sitting down, they watched Him."[1] Mark reports the same incident, as follows: "And crucifying Him, they parted His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take."[2] In like manner Luke says: "And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding."[3] The occurrence is thus recorded briefly by ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Superstition in Divinations, Art. 8: Article: Whether divination by drawing lots is unlawful? I answer that, As stated above (Article [3]), sortilege consists, properly speaking, in doing something, that by observing the result one may come to the knowledge of something unknown. If by casting lots one seeks to know what is to be given to whom, whether it be a possession, an honor, a dignity, a punishment, or some action or other, it is called "sortilege of allotment"; if one seeks to know what ought to be done, it”
- 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”
- 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).”
- Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 13:6: All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim--(See on Jos 11:8) --that is, "all the Sidonians and PhÅ“nicians." them will I drive out--The fulfilment of this promise was conditional. In the event of the Israelites proving unfaithful or disobedient, they would not subdue the districts now specified; and, in point of fact, the Israelites never possessed them though the inhabitants were subjected to the power of David and Solomon. only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance--The parenthetic section be”
- Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 7:14: Ye shall be brought according to your tribes - It has been a subject of serious inquiry in what manner and by what means the culpable tribe, family, household, and individual, were discovered. The Jews have many conceits on the subject; the most rational is, that the tribes being, in their representatives, brought before the high priest, the stone on the breastplate gave immediate intimation by suddenly losing its lustre. According to them, this is what is termed consulting God by Urim and Thummim. It is however most probable that the whole was determined by the lot”
- 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;”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 19:24: They said therefore among themselves,.... When they saw what a curious piece of work it was, and that it was pity to divide it into parts: and besides, that it would have been rendered entirely useless thereby: they moved it to each other, saying, let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: not that they knew anything of the Scripture, or had any intention of fulfilling it hereby, but they were so directed by the providence of God, to take such a step; whereby was literally accomplished the passage in Psa 22:18 ”