What is casting lots in the Bible?
Who cast lots?

Q. What is casting lots? Why did people cast lots? Where is casting lots in the Bible? Our Bible Study group is studying 1Samuel Chapter 14. We want to know exactly what they did when they cast lots.

(Submitted by: G. D.)

A. The casting of lots was very frequently used in the ancient world, including Israel. The case of 1Samuel 14:40-42, according to the Septuagint translation, was a use of the Urim and Thummim, rather than the casting of lots itself, and these, with the Ephod were part of the breastplate of judgment. The verses you are referring to are:

"Now Saul said,  "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light;  and let us not leave a man of them."  And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you."  Then the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here."

"So Saul asked counsel of God,  "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?"  But He did not answer him that day.  And Saul said, "Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.  For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die."  But not a man among all the people answered him.

"Then he said to all Israel,  "You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side."  And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

"Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel,  "Give a perfect lot."  So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.  And Saul said, "Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me."  So Jonathan was taken.

"Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done."  And Jonathan told him, and said, 'I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand.  So now I must die!' " (1Samuel 14:36-42, NKJV throughout)

According to Jewish historian Josephus, the Urim consisted of two sardonyx stones, each contained in a pouch in the Breastplate worn by the High Priest. One of the two stones shined brightly when God was present (or involved). It seems, that in verse 37 of the Scripture above, God did not answer Saul's request, but He did answer the other request, recorded in verses 40-42.

The main obvious reason for casting lots was the impartiality of a certain decision. No one could argue that the decision was the result of politics, nepotism, favoritism, etc. It basically was the same as the casting of dice of today. They used different means of casting, depending on the location and customs. The varied from polished sticks to coins, cards, dice, and more.

What is particularly significant is the fact that, in ancient Israel, the High Priest did use this method for important, uncertain decisions. It amounted to consulting God for the answer:

"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." (Proverbs 16:33)

The last recorded case in Scripture is on Acts 1:24-26, when the apostles asked God' decision of a choice between two men to replace Judas, through the casting of lots:

"And they prayed and said,  "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."  And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias.  And he was numbered with the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:24-26)

It has been an ancient practice for people to take upon themselves to enquire things unknown, through mediums, readers of cards, palm readers, diviners, etc. This is part of the occult that God condemns, as made abundantly clear in Deuteronomy 18:

"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.  There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

"For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.  You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.  For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners;  but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you." (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)

There is no problem with flipping a coin or some similar method to select something or determine a winner as long as we understand that the outcome is left to chance and nothing else.