Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LOTS

Objects cast to determine an answer beyond human comprehension or to make a decision requiring divine guidance. Heb. gôrāl originally meant “stone” or “pebble,” but eventually came to mean “destiny” or “fate.” Lots were presumably small stones or pieces of wood and are always referred to as being thrown, shaken, or cast down. The practice of lot casting is connected with the Urim and Thummin, priestly oracle devices which may have also been lots or small dice.

In the Bible lot-casting held several different purposes, both civil and cultic. Lots were cast before God in division of the land (Josh. 18:6; 19:51), distribution of goods (Nah. 3:10; Ps. 22:18[MT 19]), and selection of residents of postexilic Jerusalem (Neh. 10:34[35]). Lots were also cast to ascertain the identity of a guilty party (Josh. 7:10-26; Jonah 1:7; 1 Sam. 14:41-42), and in the selection of a king (1 Sam. 10:20) or a cultic functionary (1 Chr. 24–26). Lots were cast on the Day of Atonement for choosing the sacrificial goat (Lev. 16:8-10). In the NT the successor of Judas is selected by casting lots (Acts 1:23-26) and the Roman soldiers throw lots (Gk. klḗros) to divide Jesus’ clothing (John 19:24; Mark. 15:24 par.).

The divinatory technique termed psephomancy or cleromancy refers to lot casting, a prevalent method of divination in the ancient world. In the Bible, however, the casting of lots was one of the few legitimate means of divine revelation (as were dreams and direct communication with the deity). Lot casting is not among the condemned mantic or divinatory practices such as soothsaying, magic, and necromancy (cf. Deut. 18:10-12). Lot casting, therefore, had divine sanction and control. Though the throwing of the lots was a human action, the revelation was a direct message from God (Prov. 16:33).

See Purim.

Bibliography. W. W. Hallo, “The First Purim,” BA (1983): 19-29; J. Lindblom, “Lot-Casting in the Old Testament,” VT 12 (1962): 164-78.

Julye Bidmead