There are numerous scriptural references to the casting of lots as a way to discern the will of God and decide everything from choosing an apostle (Acts 1:26) to deciding who should confront Laban and request the Plates of Brass as mentioned in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 3:11). The first mention in the Bible to the casting of lots referred to goats.
Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. And the Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:8-10).
Reuben, Gad and the tribes of Manasseh, Judah and Joseph had received their inheritance. There were seven Tribes of Israel on the west side of the River Jordan that had not yet been given a land of inheritance. The tribe of Levi was given numerous cities among each of the Tribes of Israel. Joshua sent out three members from each of the remaining seven tribes to survey the land and divide it into seven sections. Once they returned to Shiloh, by tradition each of the tribes would have their tribal name inscribed upon a shard of broken pottery and placed in a sack or goat skin. Joshua declared, “Bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God” (Joshua 18:6). At that point one of the seven pieces of land would be announced and a shard with the name of the tribe would be drawn from the sack. It was accepted as the will of God.
In 1 Samuel 14:42 there is a trial to discern who had violated the oath of Saul, lots were cast between Saul and his son Jonathan. The lot fell to Jonathan meaning that he had unknowingly eaten honey when his father had sworn an oath saying “Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day.” Fortunately Saul was persuaded to save his son and later in a battle with the Philistines both Jonathan and Saul died
There were numerous duties to be performed by the various sons and grandsons of Aaron as officiators in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. These assignments were made by casting lots. There were a total of twenty-four subdivisions made. These assignments were passed on from father to son for generations (1 Chr. 24:5-19). Within each assignments were multiple duties such as musicians playing harps, psalteries, and cymbals in the House of God. There were those assigned to sing in a choir. It is of interest to note that the 150 Psalms were the hymns sung in the temple. The word “Selah” found in the Psalms is the musical symbol for the musician to rest. All of the duties were assigned by the casting of lots (1 Chr. 25:8-31). Similar assignments were made for porters [those in charge of the treasury and collecting the temple tax], officers and judges. These were assigned by the casting of lots (1 chr.26:13-14). Even those who were to bring wood to burn under the altars of the Temple were assigned by the casting of lots. (Nehemiah 10:34). Lots were drawn so that one out of every ten priest lived in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1). The prophecy of casting lots for the garments of Jesus was given in (Psalms 22:18). The fulfillment of that prophecy was recorded in (Matt 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34). Because of apostasy in Israel the Prophet Joel foretold that foreign nations would cast lots to punish Israel (Joel 3:3). The Prophet Obadiah confirmed Joel’s prophecy proclaiming that Edom would be among the spoilers of Jerusalem (Ob. 1:11). Lots were cast aboard the ship that carried Jonah to see who was responsible for the storm. The lot fell to Jonah. (Jonah 1:7) and Jonah went overboard. The Prophet Nahum added the warning that the honorable men would be sold as slaves by the casting of lots by their foreign conquerors (Nahum 3:10).
In addition to the Biblical references, the story of Masada is another place where the casting of lots took place. After the conquest of Jerusalem in 70 AD, nearly a thousand Jews fled to the mountain fortress of Masada. After a three year struggle the Romans were about to subdue the rebel Jews. However rather than submit to slavery they committed mass suicide. The last ten men wrote their names on pottery shards and then cast lots to kill one another.