In the ancient Near Eastern context, arrows were not only instruments of war and hunting but also tools for divination. This practice, known as belomancy, involved interpreting the will of the divine through the casting or drawing of arrows. The Bible provides insight into this practice, particularly in the context of pagan nations and their attempts to discern the future or make decisions.

One of the most notable references to arrow divination in the Bible is found in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 21:21 , the prophet describes the actions of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar: "For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen. He will cast lots with arrows; he will consult his idols and examine the liver." Here, the casting of arrows is mentioned alongside other forms of divination, such as consulting idols and examining the liver, highlighting the syncretistic and superstitious practices of the time.

The use of arrows for divination was part of a broader cultural milieu where various forms of augury were employed to seek guidance from the spiritual realm. This practice was common among the surrounding nations of Israel, who often sought omens and signs to make critical decisions, especially in matters of war and governance.

In contrast, the Israelites were expressly forbidden from engaging in such practices. The Law of Moses clearly prohibited divination and seeking omens, as seen in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 : "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The reliance on divination, including the casting of arrows, was seen as a rejection of trust in the LORD. Instead, the Israelites were called to seek guidance directly from God through prayer, the prophets, and the revealed Word. The use of divination was associated with idolatry and a lack of faith in God's sovereignty and providence.

The biblical narrative consistently portrays the futility and error of relying on such practices. In Isaiah 44:25 , God declares His power over false diviners: "who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense." This underscores the biblical theme that true wisdom and guidance come from God alone, not from human attempts to manipulate or predict the future through superstitious means.

In summary, while the practice of divining by arrows was prevalent among ancient pagan cultures, the biblical perspective condemns such practices as contrary to faith in the one true God. The Scriptures call believers to seek divine guidance through legitimate means ordained by God, emphasizing trust in His wisdom and sovereignty over all aspects of life.Ezekiel 21:21
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Iranian Conquest
... round in their mouths." And the reason of their horror is easily divined: "Whoso
eats ... besides that of Alyattes, which is mentioned by the ancients, belonged to ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

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