Casting of Lots
The “casting of lots” is mentioned on numerous occasions in the scriptures (70 times in the Old Testament, and 7 times in the New Testament). It was a means by which ancient peoples sought to determine the will of God in a particular matter.
In the story of Esther a lot is cast to choose which day the Jews would be exterminated (Esther 3:7). The Persian word for “casting a lot” is pur, and the plural form is purim. The Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Purim to remember the victory over Haman in the Book of Esther.
The small cube pictured above is a reproduction of one that belonged to Iahali, a high official of Shalmanesser III, who ruled from 858–823 B.C. The cuneiform inscription reads: “…the lot of Iahali the grand vizier of Shalmaneser king of Assyria … assigned to him by lot, may the harvest prosper and thrive, in front of the gods Assur and Adad may his lot fall.”
The lots cast in the New Testament era may have looked more like the many-faceted block pictured below, with different Greek letters on the various sides. The Roman soldiers “cast lots” to divide up Jesus’ clothing after His crucifixion (Matthew 27:35). The disciples of Jesus “cast lots” to determine who should replace Judas as a twelfth apostle (Acts 1:26).
In the story of Esther a lot is cast to choose which day the Jews would be exterminated (Esther 3:7). The Persian word for “casting a lot” is pur, and the plural form is purim. The Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Purim to remember the victory over Haman in the Book of Esther.
The small cube pictured above is a reproduction of one that belonged to Iahali, a high official of Shalmanesser III, who ruled from 858–823 B.C. The cuneiform inscription reads: “…the lot of Iahali the grand vizier of Shalmaneser king of Assyria … assigned to him by lot, may the harvest prosper and thrive, in front of the gods Assur and Adad may his lot fall.”
The lots cast in the New Testament era may have looked more like the many-faceted block pictured below, with different Greek letters on the various sides. The Roman soldiers “cast lots” to divide up Jesus’ clothing after His crucifixion (Matthew 27:35). The disciples of Jesus “cast lots” to determine who should replace Judas as a twelfth apostle (Acts 1:26).
