Casting Lots

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Playing dice—using a game of chance in order to decide who gets Jesus’ clothes.

This passage (Jn 19:24) is a quotation from Psalm 22:18 which runs parallel to the entire plot of the Passion narrative .
 
It was less like dice and more like drawing 1 of 2 cards - yes or no. The High Priest had a box around his neck that had two items - the Unim and the Thurimm (?) - although scholars are not sure what they were. The High Priest would cast lots when faced with a tough decision and leave the choice up to God.
 
We don’t know precisely what the “lots” were that were cast. It could have been dice, or stones, or straws. There are many references to casting lots in the OT and NT. The references in the OT refer to stones kept in a pouch by the High Priest. But, obviously in the NT the Roman soldiers also cast lots so there were likely multiple meanings or versions of casting lots.

Today’s equivalents would be to roll a die, flip a coin, draw straws, or even to play ro-cham-beau (rock, paper, scissors).
 
Oops! Its Urim and Thummim. It’s discussed in Exodus 28:30 - In this breastpiece of decision you shall put the Urim and Thummim, that they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus he shall always bear the decisions for the Israelites over his heart in the LORD’S presence.

But, in any event, they were used to show their trust in God to make the correct decision.
 
The Apostles also utilized the casting of lots when they were determining a successor for Judas:
Acts 1
24 And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen
25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.”
26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi’as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles
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Again, Scripture is silent on the details.
 
1ke said:
We don’t know precisely what the “lots” were that were cast. It could have been dice, or stones, or straws. There are many references to casting lots in the OT and NT. The references in the OT refer to stones kept in a pouch by the High Priest. But, obviously in the NT the Roman soldiers also cast lots so there were likely multiple meanings or versions of casting lots.

Today’s equivalents would be to roll a die, flip a coin, draw straws, or even to play ro-cham-beau (rock, paper, scissors).
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I think its very symbolic for Luke to include this fact during this stage of the Church in Acts. As Exodus indicates, the High Priest would be the one to cast the Unim and Thurimm. It looks like Luke is showing that Peter is the head of the New Church (at least until the return of the real High Priest).
 
κλῆρος, kliros, broken bits.

From Strong’s concordance:

An object used in casting or drawing lots, which was either a pebble, or a potsherd, or a bit of wood.

The lots of several persons concerned, inscribed with their names, were thrown together into a vase, which was then shaken, and he whose lot fell out first upon the ground was the one chosen.
 
NotWorthy said:
It was less like dice and more like drawing 1 of 2 cards - yes or no. The High Priest had a box around his neck that had two items - the Unim and the Thurimm (?) - although scholars are not sure what they were. The High Priest would cast lots when faced with a tough decision and leave the choice up to God.
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I heard they were two onyx stones. One glowed for yes the other for no. Simple divination like Abraham used on a couple of animals in the OT.

B
 
billcu1 said:
I heard they were two onyx stones. One glowed for yes the other for no. Simple divination like Abraham used on a couple of animals in the OT.

B
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Or as we have ritualized before every football game. :extrahappy:
 
billcu1 said:
I heard they were two onyx stones. One glowed for yes the other for no. Simple divination like Abraham used on a couple of animals in the OT.

B
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If I remember correctly, it was one of those things that, when 4 biblical experts are asked, you will get 5 different answers!
 
Michael_Mayo said:
How is this not divination? or superstitious?
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Well, I guess it’s only ‘divination’ if someone other than God is involved. 😉

Lot-casting, known and practiced as a form of divination in other cultures (as cleromancy), is interestingly the only thing that was not prohibited in Deuteronomy 18:9-14, where other major forms of divination and superstition common in other peoples are banned. In fact, the Urim and Thummim is even considered to be one of the few legitimate means of divine revelation (the others are dreams and communication with God, either directly or through a prophet).
 
patrick457 said:
Lot-casting, known and practiced as a form of divination in other cultures (as cleromancy), is interestingly the only thing that was not prohibited in Deuteronomy 18:9-14, where other major forms of divination and superstition common in other peoples are banned. In fact, the Urim and Thummim is even considered to be one of the few legitimate means of divine revelation (the others are dreams and communication with God, either directly or through a prophet).
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I can’t verify this, but I heard a completely new and different explanation for “Lot-Casting”.

It seems that Abraham’s nephew was a small individual and “Lot-Casting” is the predecessor for what is known as “dwarf-tossing” today that you see in some bars and nightclubs. (you can insert your own rim-shot here).
 
Michael_Mayo said:
How is this not divination? or superstitious?
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They prayed and cast lots. Yes that does seem that it leads one to think of superstition or chance as the final decision maker. However, this was done before the Pentecost so they had not yet fully received the Holy Spirit. I don’t think “lots were cast” after that time…at least I hope not.
 
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