“This is the law of the peace offering that one sacrifices to the Lord” (Leviticus 7:11). “If he sacrifices it as a thanks offering, he shall sacrifice with the thanks offering unleavened loaves mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of boiled fine flour, mixed with oil” (Leviticus 7:12). “This is the law of the peace offering that one sacrifices to the Lord.” That is what the verse says: “One who slaughters a thanks offering honors Me” (Psalms 50:23).
It is not written here “One who slaughters a sin offering,” or “one who slaughters a guilt offering,” but rather, “one who slaughters a thanks offering.” Why? A sin offering comes due to a sin and a guilt offering comes due to a sin. A thanks offering does not come due to a sin, “if he sacrifices it as a thanks offering.”
Another matter, “one who slaughters a thanks offering honors Me,” this is Akhan, who slaughtered his evil inclination in confession. “Joshua said to Akhan: My son, please give glory [to the Lord, God of Israel, and confess to Him]… Akhan answered Joshua [and he said: Indeed, I have sinned against the Lord, God of Israel; such and such I have done]” (Joshua 7:19–20). “And for one who sets his path” (Psalms 50:23); he showed the penitents the path [of repentance].
That is what is written: “The sons of Zeraḥ: Zimri, Eitan, Heiman, Kalkol, and Darda; all of them were five” (I Chronicles 2:6). Zimri – Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: This is Akhan, as he performed the act of Zimri.1In addition to the sin of taking from the prohibited spoils of Jericho (see Joshua 7:1), Akhan sinned in the realm of forbidden sexual relations (see Sanhedrin 44a), as did Zimri (see Numbers 25:14).
The Rabbis say: It is because Israel was pruned [nizmeru] on his account.2Thirty-six soldiers were killed in the first war with Ai due to Akhan’s sin. Eitan – this is Abraham our patriarch, based on: “A contemplation by Eitan the Ezrahite” (Psalms 89:1).3The Sages identify Eitan the Ezrahite with Abraham. See Bava Batra 15a. Heiman – this is Moses, as it is stated: “In all My household he is trusted [ne’eman]” (Numbers 12:7).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: This is Akhan, based on: “Indeed [omna], I have sinned” (Joshua 7:20). Kalkol – this is Joseph, based on: “Joseph sustained [vaykhalkel]” (Genesis 47:12). Darda – this is the generation [dor] of the wilderness, which was full of knowledge [de’a]. “All of them were five” – do we not know that all of them were five?
Rather, it teaches that even Akhan was with them in the World to Come. Likewise, Joshua said: “May the Lord sully you on this day” (Joshua 7:25); this day you are sullied, but you are not sullied in the future.