God’s way was to make every Israelite feel that he might be the guilty person (Read Matt. 26:21-2221And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? (Matthew 26:21‑22)). Only then could they all get together to identify the guilty one. The whole camp is brought together. Imagine what a hush there must have been as the narrowing down started.
V.18 One man.
V.19, 20 Notice who he said he had sinned against.
V.21 Notice three steps he had taken “I saw,” “I coveted,” “I took,” and “I hid.” One sin leads to another!
V.22 They ran to check everything, and there it was.
V.24-26 Why take the whole family? Because he would have to dig a big hole in the ground in the middle of their tent; everyone would know what the father was doing there. The whole family was involved. What a dreadful example for his children to follow! What responsibility was his! What ruin for his whole family! Are we careful how we are bringing up our children for the Lord?