devoted to sacred uses: and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and which was what was feared now; and this instance is brought to show that such fears were not groundless: and that man perished not alone in his iniquity: which seems to confirm the notion of those who think that his children suffered with him; though it may be observed, that it was through his sin that thirty six men were slain by the men of Ai, Jos 7:5 .