Why Achan's Children Were Brought to the Valley of Achor

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 18:9

"And Joshua took Achan son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons and his daughters" (Joshua 7:24). The Exilarch said to Rav Huna: if he sinned, what did his sons and daughters do [to deserve this]? He said to him: by your reasoning, if he sinned, what did all Israel do, as it is written, "and all Israel with him"? Rather, they were brought to make them witness [the punishment]; here too, to make them witness. "And they burned them with fire, and they stoned them with stones" (Joshua 7:25) — two [forms of execution]? Ravina said: the one fit for burning, to burning; the one fit for stoning, to stoning.

Themes