{"id":53468,"date":"2019-04-09T22:08:41","date_gmt":"2019-04-09T19:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=53468"},"modified":"2022-11-01T16:49:52","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T14:49:52","slug":"achans-sin-punishment-and-repentance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/achans-sin-punishment-and-repentance\/","title":{"rendered":"Achan\u2019s Sin, Punishment And Repentance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Who was Achan ben Karmi of the tribe of Judah? What reason does he have to steal spoils of war? How is this event important enough to occupy an entire chapter? We know little about Achan from the chapter, but the midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah 23 and Sanhedrin 43b offer us a fuller account of our story. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua doesn\u2019t know the cause of their latest defeat at Ai, and God refuses to tell him. Instead Joshua casts lots to see who is at fault. Achan scoffs at the idea of casting lots, but Joshua pleads, for God\u2019s sake, not to spread slander about the lots, as the Land of Israel will one day be divided by lots. At first Achan does not comply. In fact, Achan\u2019s tribe of Judah stands behind him and begins a civil war. This was too much for Achan. He reasoned \u2018anyone who saves a life as if he saves the whole world. I have been the cause of this killing, I have sinned and have caused others to sin. \u00a0It is better that I admit what I have done before God and Joshua, so that no further harm come upon me\u2019. So he stood up and publicly announced that he stole the goods on Shabbat, even though he was already rich. Everyone ceased their fighting. Joshua immediately sent men to dig up the treasure before any other Judean could steal it and continue the fighting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua publicly displays everything that was stolen in front of Achan\u2019s entire family so that they would all learn from his actions. \u00a0The midrash concludes, \u201c \u2018Joshua said: Just as you have defiled us, so God will defile you this day\u2019. This day, yes, but not in the world to come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Achan, and maybe even his whole tribe, believe they can do anything. This is conquest, Wild West style, and the mightiest will prevail. \u00a0Although Achan\u2019s initial theft was an act of ego and selfishness, he was able to see beyond himself, and repent. He realized that his obsession of self eventually led to civil war, and this realization brought him to confess. He did so for the sake of the Land of Israel, for the sake of his fellow Israelites, for the sake of Heaven. <\/span><\/p>\n

While he still had to face the consequences of his deeds in this world, his confession showed the Israelites that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of the whole, and thus, secured his place in the world to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

Achan teaches us the importance of learning one\u2019s place in society. It is the story of our national mission taking precedence over the aspirations and ambitions of individuals. <\/span><\/p>\n

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