Mishle 18:18

18 The goral (lot) causeth contentions to cease, and keepeth the mighty apart.

Mishle 18:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:18

The lot causeth contentions to cease
When a case cannot be determined among parties at variance in a private way, nor in a court of judicature, the lot is cast, and that puts an end to all strife, and makes each party easy; they submit to it, and acquiesce in it; and parteth between the mighty;
the kings and princes of the earth; men of great power and authority, and of great riches and affluence; and so in a capacity of contending with each other, and of prolonging the contention, which may be attended with bad consequences; and who are not easily dissuaded from it: or it may intend such who most vehemently disagree; persons of great spirits, who are obstinate and stubborn, and will by no means yield, and there is no parting them by arguments or legal decisions; these the lot parts, and causes them to cease from their quarrels and contentions, and to rest satisfied with the distributions the lot makes to them; as the children of Israel were with their portion of the land of Canaan, assigned them by lot.

Mishle 18:18 In-Context

16 The mattan adam (gift of a man) openeth the way for him, and bringeth him before gedolim.

17 He that is harishon (the first) to make his case seemeth tzaddik, but his re’a cometh and doth cross-examine him.

18 The goral (lot) causeth contentions to cease, and keepeth the mighty apart.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and their contentious quarrelings are like the bars of an armon (citadel).

20 An ish’s beten shall be filled with the fruit of his peh (mouth), and with the produce of his sfatayim (lips) shall he be satisfied.