Forced to Sin?

 Avoda Zara (04b) R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Yohai: David was not the kind of man to do that act (Basheva), nor was Israel the kind of people to do that act (Golden Calf). David was not the kind of man to do that act, as it is written, My heart is slain within me; nor were the Israelites the kind of people to commit that act, for it is said, O that they had such a heart as this alway etc. Why, then, did they act thus? God predestined it so in order to teach thee that if an individual hath sinned and hesitates about the effect of repentance he could be referred to David, and if a community commit a sin they should be told: Go to the community. And both these instances are necessary; for if the case of the individual only were mentioned. it might have been thought that pardon is granted because his sin is not generally known, but in the case of a community whose sins are publicly known it might not be so; if, on the other hand, the case of a community only were mentioned, it might have been thought, because they command greater mercy, but with an individual, whose merits are not so numerous, it is not so; hence both are necessary.