A means of determining the will of God, prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The casting of lots was also used by pagans for the same purpose. Such use reflects the belief that nothing occurred by chance.
Casting lots to determine the will of God
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
In the ministry of the high priest
Exodus 28:30 The “Urim and Thummim” were sacred lots maintained for the purpose of determining God's will. See also Leviticus 8:7–9, Leviticus 16:6–10; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63 parallel Nehemiah 7:65
And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
To apportion land
Numbers 33:54 See also Numbers 26:54–56; Joshua 14:2, Joshua 18:10
And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.
To select individuals
1 Samuel 14:41–42 See also Joshua 7:14–18; Judges 20:9–10; 1 Samuel 10:20–21; Jonah 1:7Acts 1:15–26
So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge. Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.
To assign priestly duties
1 Chronicles 24:5 See also 1 Chronicles 26:12–13; Nehemiah 10:34; Luke 1:8–9
Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
To settle disputes
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
Casting lots as a means of divination
Ezekiel 21:21–22 See also Esther 3:7, Esther 9:24–27 The word “purim” is the plural of “pur” and means “lots”.
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.
Casting lots as a means of distributing plunder
Joel 3:2–3 See also Nahum 3:10Matthew 27:35 parallels Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:24 See also Psalm 22:18
I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land. They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.