Reference: Lots
American
Were 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, Ps 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," Nu 26:55-56; Ps 125:3; Ac 8:21. The scapegoat was to be selected, and the other of the priests' service determined by lot, Le 16:8; 1Ch 24:5; 25:8. By the same means Achan, Jonathan, and Jonah were discovered, Jos 7:14; 1Sa 14:41-42; Jon 1:7; and thus Matthias was designated by Christ to be an apostle in the place of Judas, Ac 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, Pr 16:33; Joh 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. See PURIM.