When flipping a coin, we say, “Heads or tails?” Many cultures didn’t use coins but bones, calling it “cast the bones.” Because ancient cultures had particular beliefs about gods and the spiritual world, “casting the bones” took on religious meaning. Even the Israelites and Jews practiced this with God.
When Are Bones Used for Casting Lots?
Casting lots with bones is an ancient method of seeking guidance, making decisions, and gaining insights into the unknown.
The practice of casting lots with bones can be traced back to the earliest human civilizations—including Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and ancient China. In these societies, divination was a common practice to communicate with the gods, understand natural events, and predict future outcomes. One method was “cleromancy,” a form of divination that involved casting lots (usually bones, stones, or marked sticks). Priests, shamans, or oracles then interpreted the results to gain insights into future events or to make important decisions.
The ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia used astragalomancy, a form of bone divination using sheep or other animal bones as lots. These bones were marked with symbols, interpreting the results based on how the symbols lay alongside each other after the user threw the bones.
Similarly, bone casting was a vital part of religious ceremonies and rituals in ancient Egyptians. Users took four-sided dice called “knucklebones,” made from animal ankle bones. Each side had distinct markings or symbols that corresponded to various interpretations. Priests would toss the bones and interpret the patterns to understand the will of the gods or the spirits of the deceased.
The ancient Chinese I Ching, or “Book of Changes,” is one of the oldest known divination texts. Its instructions include casting yarrow stalks, but bones were used in earlier times. The bones’ positions were carefully recorded in these divinations, and the interpretation was based on the resulting hexagram.
Ancient Greeks and Romans used bones, pebbles, or marked pieces of wood for divination, often associated with various deities or oracles. The casting of lots played a crucial role in political decisions, military campaigns, and legal matters.
Where Does the Bible Talk about Casting Lots?
These Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations influenced the early Hebrews, including casting bones and other divination methods. As with many Old Testament cultural traditions, the Hebrews and even the Old Covenant adopted this practice but with a different spin. They weren’t asking other gods but Yahweh.
The Israelites believed God was sovereign over all things, even the outcome of seemingly random events. Therefore, they could “cast lots” as they sought God’s guidance, knowing he wanted to lead and guide them in important decisions. Proverbs 16:33 even states, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
One of the earliest mentions of casting lots in the Bible occurs in the book of Leviticus. In Leviticus 16:8, the high priest of Israel was instructed to cast lots over two goats on the Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur. One goat was chosen as a sacrifice, while the other was designated as the scapegoat to carry the people’s sins into the wilderness.
In the Book of Numbers, we see instances where casting lots was used to divide the land among the twelve tribes of Israel after the exodus from Egypt.
Additionally, in the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew mentions the casting of lots during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 27:35, it is written, “And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.” This act fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 22:18, indicating that even the soldiers’ actions were divinely orchestrated to fulfill ancient predictions.
Another significant instance of casting lots can be found in the Book of Acts. After the death of Judas Iscariot, the apostles needed to select a replacement to fill the vacant position among the Twelve. They used a combination of prayer and casting lots to select Matthias as Judas’ successor.
The lots were cast to discern God’s will, make important decisions, or carry out religious rituals with divine guidance.
Casting lots in the Bible gradually declined as organized religions evolved and alternative decision-making methods emerged.
How is Casting Lots Evident in the Urim & Thummim?
The Urim and Thummim are first mentioned when God gives instructions to Moses on the design and construction of the priestly garments (Exodus 28:30). The Urim and Thummim were placed inside a pouch called the breastpiece or breastplate, which the high priest wore over his heart.
The exact nature and appearance of the Urim and Thummim are not described in detail in the Bible, leaving some uncertainty about their physical form. However, they are believed to be objects, likely stones, that God used to communicate His will in specific situations.
One notable instance of this is found in the book of Numbers (Numbers 27:21). When Joshua had to make decisions, he would consult Eleazar, the high priest at the time. Eleazar would use the Urim to inquire of the Lord and receive divine guidance.
The Urim and Thummim were often used to answer yes or no questions. The exact method of how this was done is not explicitly explained, but it could have been as simple as one stone meant “yes” and the other “no” when asking God questions.
For instance, when the Israelites inquired of the Lord about going to battle against the tribe of Benjamin due to a grave offense, the Lord instructed them to go, and they obtained guidance through the Urim and Thummim (Judges 20:18, 23-28).
Using the Urim and Thummim was not a common or routine practice in Israel. The Bible records only a few instances where they were employed to seek God’s guidance. Their usage seems to have diminished over time. Eventually, references to them disappeared from the biblical narrative after the period of the monarchy.
Where Does the Bible Warn Against Casting Lots for Occult Purposes?
While casting lots was used in specific contexts to seek God’s guidance or make decisions, there are also biblical warnings against using lots for occult or superstitious purposes.
One of the most explicit warnings against engaging in occult practices, including casting lots for such purposes, can be found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, it states:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.”
In this passage, the Lord prohibits the Israelites from participating in any form of divination, including casting lots for superstitious or occult purposes. God warns against seeking guidance from mediums or necromancers who claim to communicate with the dead and relying on fortune-tellers and sorcerers. These warnings are because such practices lead people away from trusting God and may open them up to deception and spiritual harm.
In Ezekiel 21:21-22, the prophet rebukes the people of Israel and their king for using divination by arrows, which was a form of casting lots with arrows to seek answers from false gods or pagan deities. The people sought guidance from pagan divination practices rather than turning to the true God, ultimately leading to their downfall and the destruction of Jerusalem.
In Galatians 5:19-21, the apostle Paul lists “sorcery” as one of the works of the flesh, stating that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Sorcery in this context likely includes various forms of occult practices, such as casting lots for wrongful purposes or seeking supernatural power outside of God’s authority.
Overall, the Bible’s warnings against casting lots for occult purposes underscore the importance of seeking God’s guidance and direction through prayer, faith, and obedience to His commands.
What Do We Do with Times Where God Used Casting Lots?
As with many Old Testament practices, we can see spiritual symbolism within casting the bones or lots, yet we now have the substance of something greater.
As pagan as it seems today, casting lots was a way to trust in the sovereignty and will of God for Israel. The Urim and Thummim were associated with inquiring of the Lord. What did he want them to do? Joshua didn’t “inquire of the Lord” when foreigners came to deceive the Israelites into making a treaty. This likely meant he didn’t ask the high priest to consult the Urim and Thummim. The Israelites were deceived (Joshua 9).
In one of the most critical moments of David’s leadership at Ziklag, when his men wanted to kill him after Ziklag had been sacked and their families were taken captive, David inquired of the Lord (1 Samuel 30). How? We must remember that one of the lone surviving priests had defected to David and brought the breastplate with him (1 Samuel 22:20, 23:9). David likely cast lots and used the Urim and Thummim.
So when the disciples felt they needed to choose another apostle to fill the number twelve after the death of Judas (Acts 1:26), they had a select few possibilities but wanted God to make the ultimate decision. The Old Testament tradition of casting lots and the priestly Urim and Thummim was a very Jewish way of doing so.
Apart from direct communication with the Holy Spirit, that is. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit in the Old Covenant, people needed direct words from prophets (a special work of the Spirit on one person) or another method, which sometimes included casting lots. These were humble decisions, not relying upon one’s own ideas or limited knowledge. God knows everything. We should trust him.
The Urim and Thummim were placed over the heart of the Jewish high priest, symbolizing God speaking and guiding the priest’s heart. With the advent of the fullness of the Holy Spirit to the church in Acts 2, casting lots is no longer needed. We can ask the all-knowing and all-powerful God directly for his will in a situation. And we should.
Jesus tells them to ask the Father directly (John 16:23-24). He tells them he’s sending the Holy Spirit, who will tell them all things (John 16:13). After the coming of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant to the disciples of Jesus, the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9 how even though eye hasn’t seen, ear hasn’t heard, nor the heart conceived what God has planned, God reveals these things by his Spirit.
We no longer need to flip a coin or cast lots to know the will of God. We also shouldn’t get involved in any other modern pagan ideas of guidance or direction. Astrology, fortune telling, and gambling reject our amazing gift through Christ.
He has given us direct access to the very throne room of God in heaven to ask and inquire of him through prayer. What a privilege we’ve been given through the Son. Let’s be good stewards of this treasure and pray with Jesus.
Peace.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/VeraPetruk
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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