Albert Barnes Commentary Joshua 7:14

"In the morning therefore ye shall be brought near by your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which Jehovah taketh shall come near by families; and the family which Jehovah shall take shall come near by households; and the household which Jehovah shall take shall come near man by man." — Joshua 7:14 (ASV)

The Lord taketh - that is, by lot. The Hebrew word for lot suggests that small stones, probably white and black ones, were used. These were probably drawn from a chest (compare the expressions in Joshua 18:11; Joshua 19:1).

The lot was regarded as directed in its result by God; therefore, it was used on many important occasions by the Jews and by other nations in ancient times. For example:

1. For apportionment, as of Canaan among the twelve tribes (Numbers 26:55); of the Levitical cities (Joshua 21:4 and following); of spoil or captives taken in war (Joel 3:3).
2. For detection of the guilty, as in the case of Achan, Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:42), and Jonah (Jonah 1:7).
3. For determining the persons to undertake a dangerous or warlike enterprise (Judges 20:10).
4. For making appointment to important functions (Leviticus 16:8 and following; Acts 1:26); or for sharing the duties or privileges of an office among those concerned (1 Chronicles 24:31; Luke 1:9).

The casting of lots before Haman (Esther 3:7) seems to have been for the purpose of determining the lucky day for his undertaking against the Jews. One passage (Proverbs 18:18) perhaps also points to the employment of the lot to decide litigation.