Collective Punishment for Akhan's Sin/1/en
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Collective Punishment for Akhan's Sin
Introduction
The Punishment of Innocents
Why are innocents sometimes punished for the sins of others? This question lies at the heart of the story of Akhan in Yehoshua Chapter 7. The chapter describes how Akhan sinned in taking from the banned, consecrated spoils of Yericho, resulting in national defeat at the Battle of Ai and the death of thirty-six soldiers. While these apparent innocents were punished, Akhan himself was spared. How does Hashem's justice manifest itself in the story? Why did the nation as a whole suffer for the actions of one man? Why did thirty-six innocent men need to die? And finally, why was Akhan's personal punishment suspended, and he killed not in battle but only after a public lottery declared him guilty?
