Achan Disputes the Lots Before His Confession

Achan said to Joshua: For this matter that you speak of, am I to die? Why do you cast lots between me and my household? I too will cast lots between you and Phinehas. If the lot does not fall upon the two of you, I too will believe. He said to him, Tell me what you did. Achan said to him, You too, what did you do? Immediately a quarrel broke out in Israel, and the tribe of Judah rose and killed in Israel group upon group. When Achan saw this, he said in his heart: Whoever sustains one soul of Israel is as one who sustains a whole world, and through me all those souls are being killed. Immediately he confessed and said, "Truly I have sinned" (Joshua 7:20). Achan said to Joshua: Has not Moses our teacher been asleep [dead] only thirty or forty days? Did not Moses your teacher teach you, By the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses shall the condemned be put to death (Deuteronomy 17:6)? You have begun to err! Joshua foresaw by the Holy Spirit that the land was destined to be divided by lot. He said: If they hold their ground now [in challenging the lot], all Israel will say, In capital cases [the verdict] held by lots; in monetary cases, how much more so. He began to appease him, "My son, give now honor" (Joshua 7:19).