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(Joshua 7:24)
QUESTION
36. IF THE SINNING
SOUL ALONE IS TO BE PUNISHED BY THE DEAD, WHY IN THE SIN OF ACHAN, THE SON OF
CHARMI, THIRTY MEN WERE SLAIN TO ATONE FOR HIS CRIME? — This word of
Scripture must be understood in another sense than that which is given to it.
It wanted to speak here not of this death which is common to all, but of that
which is called the second death. This death is the punishment reserved for
sinners. As for those who were killed in this fight, they did not atone for
the sin of Achan, but they were deprived of divine protection that would have
made them victorious over their enemies. It was not the sin of Achan that was
the cause of their defeat, but they were deprived of the help of God to
oppose a brave resistance, and they were put to death, because they were few
against a great multitude, and they were overwhelmed by numbers. There is
therefore no injustice in the will of God; it is in his power to grant or
refuse his assistance; if he grants it, it is an act of mercy; if he refuses
it, it is an effect of his justice, for there is not here a debtor strictly
obliged to pay what he owes. This is why Joshua, son of Nave, grieved at this
failure, uncovered his clothes (Josh. 7:6), because he understood that it was
not without reason that God had refused the support of his divine help.
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(Joshua 7:24)
QUESTION
14. IF THE SINNER
ALONE SHOULD DIE IN PUNISHMENT FOR HIS SIN, WHY ARE THIRTY MEN PUT TO DEATH
FOR THE PERSONAL SIN OF CHARMI? — As for Charmi, he was guilty, and he was stoned to death.
The thirty-six men, on the contrary, who perished in the fight, were not
overwhelmed by the weight of divine vengeance, but simply deprived of its
aid. It is their weakness, and consequently their lack of resistance, which
has been the cause of their death. The sin of Charmi has determined here only
one thing, that those who could count on the help of God have been deprived
of it. This is why Joshua, son of Nave, was grieved and tore his clothes,
because he understood that God, who was his protector, had withdrawn his
support in this circumstance.
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