Sanhedrin

R. Joshua b. Levi said; He who sacrifices  his [evil] inclination and  confesses [his sin] over it,  Scripture imputes it to him as though he had honoured the Holy One, blessed be He, in both worlds, this world and the next; for it is written, Whoso offereth the sacrifice of confession honoureth me. R. Joshua b. Levi also said: When the Temple was in existence, if a man brought a burnt offering, he received credit for a burnt offering; if a meal offering, he received credit for a meal offering; but he who was humble in spirit, Scripture regarded him as though he had brought all the offerings, for it is said, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.  And furthermore, his prayers are not despised, for it is written, A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. AND IF HE KNOWS NOT WHAT TO CONFESS,  THEY INSTRUCT HIM, 'SAY, MAY MY DEATH BE AN EXPIATION FOR ALL MY SINS.' R. JUDAH SAID: IF HE KNOWS THAT HE IS A VICTIM OF FALSE EVIDENCE, HE CAN SAY: MAY MY DEATH BE AN EXPIATION FOR ALL MY SINS BUT THIS. THEY [THE SAGES] SAID TO HIM: IF SO, EVERYONE WILL SPEAK LIKEWISE IN ORDER TO CLEAR HIMSELF. GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: The word na  is none other than a form of supplication. When the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Joshua, Israel hath sinned,  he asked Him, 'Sovereign of the Universe, who hath sinned?' 'Am I an informer?' He answered, 'Go and cast lots.' Thereupon he went and cast lots, and the lot fell upon Achan. Said he to him; 'Joshua, dost thou convict me by a mere lot?  Thou and Eleazar the Priest are the two greatest men of the generation, yet were I to cast lots upon you, the lot might fall on one of you.  I beg thee,'  he replied, 'cast no aspersions on [the efficacy of] lots, for Eretz Yisrael is yet to be divided by means of lots, as it is written, The land shall be divided by lot.  [Therefore,] make confession.' Rabina said: He bribed him with words, saying, Do we seek aught from thee but a confession? confess unto Him and be free. Straightway, Achan answered Joshua and said: Of a truth, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and thus have I done.  R. Assi said in R. Hanina's name: This teaches that Achan had thrice violated the ban, twice in the days of Moses,  and once in the days of Joshua, for it is written, I have sinned,  and thus and thus have I done. R. Johanan said on the authority of R. Eleazar b. Simeon: He did so five times, four times in the days of Moses,  and once in the days of Joshua, for it is written, I have sinned and thus and thus have I done.  And why were they [the Israelites] not punished until this occasion? R. Johanan answered on the authority of R. Eleazar b. Simeon: Because [God] did not punish for secret transgressions until the Israelites had crossed the Jordan. This point is disputed by Tannaim: The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever.  Why are the words: Lanu u-lebanenu, [unto us and to our children] and the 'ayin of the word 'ad, [for ever] dotted?  — To teach that God did not punish for transgression committed in secret, until the Israelites had crossed the Jordan:  this is the view of R. Judah. Said R. Nehemia to him; Did God ever  punish [all Israel] for crimes committed in secret; does not Scripture say for ever?  But just as God did not punish [all Israel] for secret transgressions [at any time], so too did He not punish them [corporately] for open transgressions until they had crossed the Jordan.  Then