Midras Ulangan 20:14: Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Midrash Tanchuma, Vayikra Rabbah & Bamidbar Rabbah

It is written (in Josh. 7:19): THEN JOSHUA SAID UNTO ACHAN: <MY SON, PLEASE GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL AND MAKE A CONFESSION TO HIM. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. DO NOT HIDE IT FROM ME.> Achan said to him: Am I to die because of this thing that you are saying unto me?¹⁰Tanh., Numb. 10:5; Numb. R. 23:6. When Achan saw <the situation>, he said in his heart: Now I shall be entrapped by the lot. Then I shall be found untrue (rt.: 'MN) and deemed a liar before Joshua. At that moment Achan said to Joshua: Why are you casting lots between me and my house? Let me cast lots between you and Phinehas! If the lot does not come up for both of you, I also shall believe (rt.: 'MN). At that moment (according to Josh. 7:19) [THEN] JOSHUA SAID {TO} [UNTO] ACHAN: MY SON, PLEASE GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL AND MAKE A CONFESSION [TO HIM]. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. Achan said to him: You also tell me what you have done. Immediately discord broke out in Israel, so that <Achan's> tribe of Judah arose in strife and killed one group after another in Israel. When Achan saw this, he said in his heart: If anyone saves a single life in Israel, it is as though he had saved the entire world; yet in my case, it has been through me that so many people in Israel have been killed. I am a sinner and one who causes <others> to sin. It is better <for me> to confess my transgression before the Holy One and before Joshua, so that no calamity come about through me. What did Achan do? He arose and made his voice heard, so that the whole congregation became silent before him. He said to Joshua (in vs. 20): I AM THE ONE WHO REALLY SINNED BEFORE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. THUS AND SO (literally: LIKE THIS AND LIKE THIS) IS WHAT I HAVE DONE. So it was not THIS alone, but I have already acted fraudulently in other matters.¹¹See Gen. R. 85:14, according to which Achan had acted dishonestly in the person of his great grandfather, Zerah, the son of Judah by Tamar. Joshua said to him: Indeed I also knew that you were responsible for the situation. (Josh. 7:19:) PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. DO NOT HIDE IT FROM ME. (vs. 21): I SAW AMONG THE SPOILS. [He had said to himself:] I have seen what is written in the Torah (in Deut. 20:14): YOU MAY EAT THE SPOILS OF YOUR ENEMIES. (Josh. 7:21) <I SAW AMONG THE SPOILS> A FINE SHINAR MANTLE…. Now do not say that I am poor and in need, for there is no one in the tribe of Judah more wealthy than I. Immediately (there follows vs. 22): THEN JOSHUA SENT MESSENGERS, AND THEY RAN TO THE TENT…. For what reason did Joshua send them? So that the tribe [of Judah] would not steal them (i.e., the stolen articles) and continue in the discord. Joshua therefore sent quickly, AND (according to vs. 23) THEY BROUGHT THEM UNTO JOSHUA AND UNTO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; AND THEY SPREAD THEM OUT BEFORE THE LORD. What is the significance of AND THEY SPREAD THEM OUT? Joshua said: Sovereign of the World, is it because of these that you have been angry with your children? Here they are set before you. Immediately <we read> (in vs. 24): THEN JOSHUA, <AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM,> TOOK ACHAN ACHAN BEN ZERAH, <THE SILVER, THE MANTLE, AND THE WEDGE OF GOLD,> [TOGETHER WITH HIS SONS AND HIS DAUGHTERS.] <He took> HIS SONS AND HIS DAUGHTERS in order to teach them a lesson, but HIS OX, HIS ASS, < … > AND HIS TENT <he took> for burning. <He took> ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM to see his punishment so that they would not become accustomed to acting in this way. (Vs. 24, cont.:) AND THEY BROUGHT THEM UP TO THE VALLEY OF ACHOR (akhor; rt.: 'KR). (vs. 25:) THEN JOSHUA SAID: JUST AS YOU HAVE AFFLICTED (rt.: 'KR) US, [MAY THE LORD AFFLICT (rt.: 'KR) YOU] THIS DAY.¹²Without the bracketed words, the verse would read: HOW YOU HAVE AFFLICTED US THIS DAY! THIS DAY <only> is he to be afflicted ('akhur; rt.: 'KR), but he will have a share in the world to come. (Vs. 25, cont.:) THEN ALL ISRAEL PELTED HIM WITH STONES, him alone, AND THEY BURNED THEM WITH FIRE. The text is speaking of his wealth, for so it had been told him by the Almighty (in vs. 15): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN SEIZED WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PROSCRIBED SHALL BE BURNED WITH FIRE TOGETHER WITH ALL THAT HE HAS. <This passage> is only to teach you that Achan had confessed that he had stolen them on the Sabbath, when he took them out of Jericho and concealed them in the midst of his tent. Thus he was stoned for profaning the Sabbath and burned because he had transgressed the ban. And where is it shown? You find that the Holy One said so to Joshua (in Josh. 6:2–4): SEE, I HAVE GIVEN JERICHO INTO YOUR HANDS, ALONG WITH ITS KING AND THE MIGHTY WARRIORS. SO YOU SHALL GO AROUND THE CITY WITH ALL THE MEN OF WAR TO ENCOMPASS THE CITY ONE TIME. THUS SHALL YOU DO FOR SIX DAYS WITH SEVEN PRIESTS…. <BUT ON THE SEVENTH DAY YOU SHALL GO AROUND THE CITY SEVEN TIMES, AND THE PRIESTS SHALL BLOW ON THE SHOPHARS. This passage serves> to teach you that Jericho was conquered on the Sabbath. Now Joshua did this thing on his own with the Holy One giving his consent. Joshua said (to himself): The Sabbath is holy, as stated (in Exod. 31:14): YOU SHALL KEEP THE SABBATH, BECAUSE IT IS HOLY FOR YOU. So whatever we conquer on it shall be holy, as stated (in Josh. 6:19): BUT ALL THE SILVER AND GOLD, [AND THE VESSELS OF BRONZE AND IRON, ARE HOLY TO THE LORD]. And where is it shown that he gave his consent? Where it is stated (in Joshua 6:17): [THE CITY] AND EVERYTHING IN IT <ARE TO BE> PROSCRIBED FOR THE LORD. At that time (according to Josh. 7:26) THE LORD TURNED FROM HIS BURNING ANGER. Concerning <this matter>, it is stated (in Prov. 16:14): THE KING's ANGER IS LIKE MESSEGERS OF DEATH, AND WHOEVER IS WISE WILL APPEASE IT. This refers to Joshua, who caused the burning anger of the Lord to turn away from Israel.

It is written (in Josh. 7:19), “Then Joshua said unto Achan, ‘My son, please give glory [to the Lord God of Israel and make a confession to Him; please tell me what you have done, do not hide it from me.]’” Achan said to him, “Am I to die because of this thing that you are saying ?”¹⁰Numb. R. 23:6. When Achan saw [the situation], he said in his heart, “Now I shall be entrapped by the lot. Then I shall be found untrue (rt.: 'mn) and deemed a liar before Joshua.” At that moment Achan said to Joshua, “Why are you casting lots between me and my house? Let me cast lots between you and Phinehas! If the lot comes up for both of you, I also shall believe (rt.: 'mn) [in it].” At that moment (according to Josh. 7:19) Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to the Lord God of Israel [and make a confession to Him]. Please tell me what you have done.” Achan said to him, “You also tell me what you have done.” Immediately discord broke out in Israel, so that [Achan's] tribe of Judah arose in strife and killed one group in Israel after another. When Achan saw this, he said in his heart, “If anyone saves a single life in Israel, it is as though he had saved the entire world; yet in my case, it has been through me that several people in Israel have been killed. I am a sinner and one who causes [others] to sin. It is better [for me] to confess my transgression before the Holy One, blessed be He, and before Joshua, so that no calamity come about through me.” What did Achan do? He arose and made his voice heard, so that the whole congregation turned to him. He said to Joshua (in vs. 20), “’(Truly) I am the one who sinned before the Lord God of Israel; thus and so (literally, like this and like this) is what I have done.’ So it was not this alone, but I have already misappropriated other [things].”¹¹See Gen. R. 85:14, according to which Achan had acted dishonestly in the person of his great grandfather, Zerah, the son of Judah by Tamar. Joshua said to him, “Indeed I also knew that you were responsible for the situation; (Josh. 7:19:) ‘please tell me what you have done. Do not hide it from me.’” (Vs. 21:) “I saw among the spoils.” [He said,] “I have seen what is written in the Torah (in Deut. 20:14), ‘you may eat the spoils of your enemies.’” (Josh. 7:21, cont.:) “A fine shinar mantle.” [He continued,] “Now do not say that I am poor and in need, for there is no one in the tribe of Judah wealthier than I. Immediately (there follows vs. 22), “Then Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent.” For what reason did Joshua send them? So that the tribe of Judah would not steal them (i.e., the stolen articles) and continue in the discord. Joshua therefore sent quickly, and (according to vs. 23) “they brought them unto Joshua and unto all the Children of Israel; and they spread them out before the Lord.” What is the significance of “and they spread them out?” Joshua said in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, is it because of these that You have been angry with Your children? Here they are set before you.” Immediately [we read] (in vs. 24), “Then Joshua took Achan ben Zerah, the silver, the mantle, and the wedge of gold, together with his sons and his daughters,” [the latter] in order to teach them a lesson; “his ox, his ass, […] and his tent,” for burning. (Vs. 24, cont.:) “All Israel [Joshua took] with him,” to see his punishment so that they would not become accustomed to acting in this way. (Vs. 24, cont.:) “And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor (akhor; rt.: 'kr).” (Vs. 25:) “Then Joshua said, ‘Just as you have afflicted (rt.: 'kr) us, [may the Lord afflict (rt.: 'kr) you] this day.’”¹²Without the bracketed words, the verse would read: HOW YOU HAVE AFFLICTED US THIS DAY! This day [only] is he to be afflicted ('akhur; rt.: 'kr), but he will have a share in the world to come. (Vs. 25, cont.:) “Then all Israel pelted him with stones,” him alone; “and they burned them with fire.” The text is speaking of his wealth, for so it had been told [Joshua] by the Almighty (in vs. 15), “And it shall come to pass that the one who has been seized with what has been proscribed shall be burned with fire....” If so, what do we learn from the verse (vs. 15, cont.), “him, and all that he has?” [This passage] is only to teach you that Achan had confessed that he had stolen them on the Sabbath, when he took them out of Jericho and buried them in the midst of his tent. Thus he was stoned for profaning the Sabbath and burned because he had transgressed the ban. And where is it shown? You find that the Holy One, blessed be He, said so to Joshua (in Josh. 6:2–4), “See, I have given Jericho into your hands, [along with its king and the mighty warriors. So you shall go around the city with all the men of war to encompass the city one time, thus shall you do for six days. …] but on the seventh day you shall go around the city seven times.” [This passage serves] to teach you that Jericho was conquered on the Sabbath. Now Joshua did this thing on his own, and the Holy One, blessed be He, gave his consent. Joshua said (to himself), “The Sabbath is holy, as stated (in Exod. 31:14), ‘You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you.’ So whatever we conquer on it shall be holy.” It is so stated (in Josh. 6:19), “But all the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord.” And where is it shown that he received consent? Where it is stated (in Joshua 6:17), “The city and everything in it are to be proscribed for the Lord.” At that time (according to Josh. 7:26) “the Lord turned from His burning anger.” Concerning [this matter], it is stated (in Prov. 16:14), “The king's anger is like messengers of death, and whoever is wise will appease it.” This refers to Joshua, who caused the burning anger of the Lord to turn away from Israel.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai began: “He stood and assessed the earth” (Habakkuk 3:6). The Holy One blessed be He assessed all the nations and did not find a nation that was worthy of receiving the Torah other than [the Israelites in] the generation of the Wilderness.⁴Some assert that the text should read: The Holy One blessed be He assessed all the nations and did not find a nation that was worthy of receiving the Torah other than the Israelites. The Holy One blessed be He assessed all the generations and did not find a generation worthy of receiving the Torah other than the generation of the Wilderness (Yefe Toar; Etz Yosef). The Holy One blessed be He assessed all the mountains and did not find a mountain that was worthy for the Torah to be received upon it other than Sinai. The Holy One blessed be He assessed all the cities and did not find a city in which the Temple should be built other than Jerusalem. The Holy One blessed be He assessed all the lands and did not find a land worthy to be given to Israel other than the Land of Israel. That is what is written: “He stood and assessed the earth. He saw and disbanded [vayater] [nations. Endless mountains exploded; eternal hills were laid low. The ways of the world are His]” (Habakkuk 3:6). Rav said: He permitted [hitir] the blood of the Canaanites and permitted [seizure of] their property. He permitted their blood: “You shall not allow a soul to remain alive” (Deuteronomy 20:16). He permitted their property, as it is stated: “You shall consume the spoils of your enemies” (Deuteronomy 20:14). Rabbi Huna said: He removed [hitir] their weapon belts, as it is written: “He loosened the bonds of kings” (Job 12:18).
Ulla Bira’a said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: This is analogous to one who went out to the threshing floor and his dog and his donkey were with him. He loaded five se’a onto his donkey and two se’a onto his dog. The donkey was walking and the dog was collapsing. He took one from it and placed it upon the donkey. Nevertheless, [the dog] was collapsing. He said to it: ‘When you are loaded, you collapse [and even] when you are not loaded you collapse.’ So too, when the descendants of Noah were unable to bear even the seven mitzvot that they received , He arose and unloaded them to Israel.⁵God removed the seven mitzvot from the nations of the world, such that, even if they perform them, they receive reward only as one who is not commanded, which is less than the reward for one who fulfills a mitzva he is commanded to fulfill. Now, only Israel has the status of those commanded to fulfill mitzvot (Bava Kamma 38a).
Rabbi Tanḥum bar Ḥanilai said: This is analogous to a doctor who entered to visit two ill people, one [with a prognosis] to live and one [with a prognosis] to die. To the one [with a prognosis] to live, he said: ‘Eat this, do not eat that.’ Of the one [whose prognosis] was not to live, he said: ‘Give him anything that he wants.’ So too, of the idolaters, who are not destined for life in the World to Come, it is written: “Like green vegetation I have given you everything” (Genesis 9:3). But for Israel, who are destined to life in the World to Come: “This is the animal that you may eat” (Deuteronomy 14:4).