“Let us cast lots, so that we may know” (Jonah 1:7): Oracle of Lot as a Ritual-like Activity in Ancient Jewish Texts

Abstract

Abstract This article seeks to push further scholarly interest and discussion about the ancient Jewish use of the oracle of lot, which has historically been hindered by its categorization as a divinatory method, by including ritual into its categorization. This article explores the ways in which the oracle of lot, as portrayed in Jewish literature, can be categorized under Catharine Bell’s description of ritual-like activity. First, the article gives a general overview of the methods, materials, and functions …