<P> Cleromancy is a form of sortition, casting of lots, in which an outcome is determined by means that normally would be considered random, such as the rolling of dice, but are sometimes believed to reveal the will of God, or other supernatural entities . </P> <P> In ancient Rome fortunes were told through the casting of lots or sortes . </P> <P> Casting of lots occurs relatively frequently in the Bible, and many biblical scholars think that the Urim and Thummim served this purpose . The Hebrew Bible contains several examples of the casting of lots as a means of determining God's will: </P> <Ul> <Li> In the Book of Leviticus 16: 8, God commanded Moses, "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat ." </Li> <Li> According to Numbers 26: 55, Moses allocated territory to the tribes of Israel according to each tribe's male population and by lot . </Li> <Li> In Joshua 7: 14, a guilty party (Achan) is probably found by lot . </Li> <Li> In the Book of Joshua 18: 6, Joshua says, "Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God ." The Hebrews took this action in order to know God's will as to the dividing of land between the seven tribes of Israel who had not yet "received their inheritance". (Joshua 18: 2). </Li> <Li> In the First Book of Samuel 14: 42, lots are used to determine that it was Jonathan, Saul's son, who broke the oath that Saul made, "Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies ." (1 Samuel 14: 24). </Li> <Li> In the Book of Jonah 1: 7, the desperate sailors cast lots to see whose god was responsible for creating the storm: "Then the sailors said to each other,' Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity .' They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah ." </Li> </Ul>

What is mean by casting lots in the bible