What does it mean, in Jonah, when they say that the men cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah?

Question

what does casting lots mean?

Answer 1

It's like drawing straws, where the person who draws the short straw is chosen for whatever is at stake--good or bad.  Have you read Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery"?  http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lot...

We're not told whether the sailors and passengers drew straws or put names in a box and drew one out or marked one slip of paper or what, but it was something of that kind.

Answer 2

the nearest thing to day to use would be drawing straws...........

throwing a dice

picking a card

to see who had either the lowest,shortest.as agreed prior to the choosing