Midrash su Giosuè 9:4

(Deut. 29:9:) “Your tribal leaders, [your elders, and your law officers].” Although I have appointed for you heads, judges, elders, and law officers, you shall all be equal before me, since it is stated (ibid., cont.), “every person in Israel.” Another interpretation (of Deut. 29:9): All of you are responsible for each other. Even though there is [only] one righteous person among you, you all shall survive (literally, stand) through his merit; and not only you, but the whole world in toto, as stated (in Prov. 10:25), “but a righteous person is the foundation for the world.”³A more common translation would be: BUT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS AN EVERLASTING FOUNDATION. However, when one sins, the whole generation is stricken, and so you find in the case of Achan (in Josh. 22:20), “Was it not Achan ben Zerah who committed [embezzlement] in the proscription (i.e., the herem of Jericho)?” If with the measure of punishment which is small, the [whole] generation was seized, how much the more [will the generation prosper], with the measure of [divine] favor which is great! It is therefore stated (in Deut. 29:9), “every person in Israel”; and not only the great ones who are among us, but (according to vs. 10) “Your infants, your wives, and your alien.” It is therefore stated (in Deut. 29:9), “every person.” Now flesh and blood shows more mercy over males than over females, but the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like that. Rather (according to Ps. 145:9), “His mercy is upon all his works,” upon males and upon females, upon the righteous and upon the wicked, as stated (in Deut. 29:10, cont.), “from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water.” (Deut. 29:10, cont.), “From the one who chops your wood.” R. Isaac ben Tavlay said, “[This] teaches that, when the Gibeonites came to [Moses he did not accept them; but when they came to] Joshua, he did accept them.⁴According to Josh. 9:27, Joshua gave these menial tasks to the Gibeonites. Thus it is stated (in Josh. 9:4), ‘And they also acted with cunning.’ What is the meaning of ‘they also?’ [This] teaches that they had come to Moses, and he had not accepted them.”

Another interpretation (of Deut. 29:9 [10]): All of you are responsible for each other. Even though there is <only> one righteous person among you, you all shall survive (literally: stand) through his merit; and not only you, but the whole world in toto, as stated (in Prov. 10:25): BUT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE WORLD.⁵A more common translation would be: BUT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS AN EVERLASTING FOUNDATION. However, when one sins, the whole generation is stricken, and so you find in the case of Achan (in Josh. 22:20): WAS IT NOT ACHAN BEN ZERAH WHO COMMITTED [EMBEZZLEMENT] IN THE PROSCRIPTION (i.e., the herem of Jericho)? YET <DIVINE> WRATH CAME UPON THE WHOLE [CONGREGATION OF] ISRAEL, SINCE HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO DIE FOR HIS SIN. If when the measure of punishment was small, the <whole> generation was seized, how much the more <will the generation prosper>, when the measure of <divine> favor is great. It is therefore stated (in Deut. 29:9 [10]): EVERY PERSON IN ISRAEL; and not only the great ones who are among us, but (according to vs. 10 [11]) YOUR LITTLE ONES, YOUR WIVES, AND THE ALIEN. It is therefore stated (in Deut. 29:9 [10]): EVERY PERSON. Now flesh and blood shows more mercy over males than over females, but the Holy One is not like that. Rather (according to Ps. 145:9), <THE LORD IS GOOD TO ALL> AND HIS MERCY IS UPON ALL HIS WORKS, upon males and upon females, upon the righteous and upon the wicked, as stated (in Deut. 29:9 [10], cont.): FROM THE ONE WHO CHOPS YOUR WOOD TO THE ONE WHO DRAWS YOUR WATER. R. Isaac ben Tavlay said: <This> teaches that, when the Gibeonites came to [Moses he did not accept them; but when they came to] Joshua, he did accept them.⁶According to Josh. 9:27, Joshua gave these menial tasks to the Gibeonites. Thus it is stated (in Josh. 9:4): AND THEY ALSO ACTED WITH CUNNING. What is the meaning of THEY ALSO? <This> teaches that they had come to Moses, and he had not accepted them.