Collective Punishment

Hi,

"The Torah says, 'That which is hidden is for HaShem our Gd; that which is revealed is for us and our descendants forever [עד עולם].' Why does the Torah include dots on 'for us and our descendants' and on the ע in עד?

"It teaches that Gd did not punish [communally] for hidden sin until the Jews crossed the Jordan, per R' Yehudah.

"R' Nechemiah asked: Does Gd ever punish [communally] for hidden sin? It says, 'That which is hidden is for HaShem our Gd… forever!' Rather: Just as Gd did not punish for hidden sin, so He did not punish for public sin until the Jews crossed the Jordan."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 43b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai