Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:In biblical terms, "lots" refer to objects used to make decisions or determine God's will in various situations. The practice of casting lots is akin to drawing straws or rolling dice, where the outcome is believed to be divinely guided. The Hebrew word for "lot" is "goral," and the Greek equivalent is "kleros." Casting lots was a common practice in ancient Israel and is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible.
Biblical Instances:1.
Division of the Land: One of the most significant uses of lots in the Bible was for the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel. In the Book of Joshua, lots were cast to allocate the land to the different tribes, ensuring a fair and divinely sanctioned distribution.
Joshua 18:10 states, "And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions."
2.
Selection of Leaders and Assignments: Lots were also used to select leaders or assign specific duties. In
1 Samuel 14:41-42 , Saul used lots to identify Jonathan as the one who had violated his oath. Similarly, in
1 Chronicles 24:5, lots were cast to organize the priestly duties among the descendants of Aaron.
3.
Determining Guilt: The casting of lots was employed to determine guilt or innocence in certain situations. In the account of Jonah, the sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm threatening their ship.
Jonah 1:7 records, "Come, let us cast lots, so we may know who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah."
4.
Choosing the Apostle Matthias: In the New Testament, after the betrayal and death of Judas Iscariot, the apostles used lots to choose Matthias as his replacement.
Acts 1:26 states, "Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."
Theological Significance:The casting of lots is seen as a means of seeking divine guidance and ensuring impartiality in decision-making.
Proverbs 16:33 reflects this belief: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." This practice underscores the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, as the outcome of the lots was considered to be determined by God Himself.
Cultural Context:In the ancient Near East, casting lots was a widespread practice not limited to Israel. It was a method used by various cultures to make decisions, settle disputes, and allocate resources. However, in the biblical context, the use of lots was distinct in its association with seeking God's will and direction.
Modern Reflections:While the practice of casting lots is not commonly used in contemporary Christian decision-making, the underlying principle of seeking God's guidance remains central. Christians today are encouraged to seek God's will through prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on random chance.
Conclusion:The use of lots in the Bible highlights the importance of divine guidance and the belief in God's active role in the lives of His people. Through the casting of lots, biblical figures sought to align their decisions with God's will, trusting in His sovereignty and wisdom.
ATS Bible Dictionary
LotsWere often cast by the Jews, as well as other ancient nations, with the expectation, when God was appealed to, that he would so control them as to give a right direction in doubtful cases,Psalm 22:18 16:11 18:18. They were often used by the divine appointment. The portions of the twelve tribes were thus assigned to them; and hence each tribe's portion was called "the lot of its inheritance,"Numbers 26:55,56Psalm 125:3Acts 8:21. The scapegoat was to be selected, and the other of the priests' service determined by lot, Le 16:81 Chronicles 24:5 25:8. By the same means Achan, Jonathan, and Jonah were discovered,Joshua 7:141 Samuel 14:41,42Jonah 1:7; and thus Matthias was designated by Christ to be an apostle in the place of Judas,Acts 1:26. A common mode of casting lots was by the use of pebbles, one or more of them being marked, and all of them being shaken together in some fold of a garment, an urn, or a helmet, before drawing,Proverbs 16:33John 19:24. As the use of lots by one who believes in the particular providence of God involves a solemn appeal to the Disposer of all events, they should never be used on trivial occasions; and in this day, a case can hardly occur when such an appeal would be warranted. SeePURIM.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LOTSSeeDIVINATION.
LOTS, FEAST OF
SeePURIM.
Greek
2975. lagchano -- to obtain by lot... to obtain by lot. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: lagchano Phonetic Spelling:
(lang-khan'-o) Short Definition: I obtain by lot, cast
lots Definition: (a
...2819. kleros -- a lot
... Scripture encourages castinglots (2819 ) to better discern the preferred-
will of God (cf. 2307 and their association in Col 1:9-12)....
2820. kleroo -- to assign by lot
... by lot. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kleroo Phonetic Spelling:
(klay-ro'-o) Short Definition: I make a heritage Definition: I castlots, choose...
2816. kleronomeo -- to inherit
... Cognate: 2816 (from 2818 , "a specific allotment of inheritance, apportioned by
castinglots") -- properly, to assign inheritance (inherit) by ....
2624. katakleronomeo -- to distribute by lot
... From kata and a derivative of a compound of kleros and didomi; to be a giver of
lots to each, ie (by implication) to apportion an estate -- divide by lot....
2817. kleronomia -- an inheritance
... Cognate: 2817 (a feminine noun derived from 2818 , "an heir, apportioned inheritance
by the casting oflots") -- , awarded by , ie the portion () (cf....
Strong's Hebrew
1486. goral -- a lot (for casting)... Origin from an unused word Definition a lot (for casting) NASB Word Usage allotted
(2), allotted portion (1), choice (1), land (1), lot (53),
lots (15),
lots...5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... cast down, self,lots, out, cease, die, divide by lot, let fail,. A primitive
root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive...
3032. yadad -- to cast a lot
... cast. A primitive root; properly, to handle (compare yadah), ie To throw, egLots --
cast. see HEBREW yadah. 3031, 3032. yadad. 3033 . Strong's Numbers.
2505. chalaq -- to divide, share
... A primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones
were used forlots) to apportion or separate -- deal, distribute, divide...
Library
Whether Divination by DrawingLots is Unlawful?
... OF SUPERSTITION IN DIVINATIONS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether divination by
drawinglots is unlawful? Objection 1: It would seem that...
The VariousLots of Man in Life.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN XIII. The variousLots of Man in Life. 8.6.8.6 James Montgomery.
The variousLots of Man in Life. One human pair, and only one,....
The Gospel Further Relates that the Soldiers Parted the Garments...
... 25. The Gospel further relates that the soldiers parted the garments of
Jesus among themselves, and castlots upon His vesture....
John Chapter xix. 23, 24
... They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but castlots for it,
whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They...
Of the Concord Preserved among all the Four Evangelists on the...
... Matthew goes on thus: "And after they crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting
lots: and sitting down, they watched Him." [1381] Mark reports the same...
An Eye-Witness's Account of the Crucifixion
... They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but castlots for it,
whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They...
The Crucifixion.
... awarded them the garments of the condemned as their perquisites] ; ^b and part {
^a parted ^c parting} ^b his garments among them, casting { ^c they cast}lots...
Synoptical Table
... 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, castinglots: that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them...
The Crucifixion.
... They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but castlots for it, whose
it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They...
He Then Shows the Unity of the Son with the Father and Eunomius'...
... Those castlots, as the Scripture tells us, for the Lord's vesture, who were unwilling
to rend His garment, but disposed to make it over to that one of their...
Thesaurus
Lots (26 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LOTS. See DIVINATION.
LOTS, FEAST OF. See
PURIM. Multi-Version Concordance
Lots (26 Occurrences).
...Parted (67 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, castinglots:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my...
Garments (232 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, castinglots: that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my...
Purim (5 Occurrences)
... A lot,lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical
commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose...
Urim (8 Occurrences)
... 4. Recent (Critical) Views: The view most generally held today is that the Urim
and Thummim were two sacredlots, one indicating an affirmative or favorable...
Vesture (10 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, castinglots: that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my...
Decision (174 Occurrences)
... 3. Methods of Forming Decisions: Perplexing questions were many times decided by
the casting oflots.... See AUGURY, IV, 3;LOTS. AW Fortune. DECISION, VALLEY OF....
Describe (11 Occurrences)
... of kathabh, usually rendered "to write" or "inscribe." But in the above passages
it has the Old English meaning of dividing into parts or intolots, as for...
Decide (33 Occurrences)
... Mark 15:24 Then they crucified Him. This done, they divided His garments among them,
drawinglots to decide what each should take. (WEY NAS RSV)....
Pur (3 Occurrences)
... A lot,lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical
commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose...
Resources
What does the Bible say about playing the lottery? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Haman the Agagite? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a cleric? | GotQuestions.orgLots: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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