I think both ELU and Eönwe are right in this idea, i mean yes, Sauron corrupted numenoreans and yes
the temptation was always present, being that "near" of aman but basically, Numenoreans, as JRR says, forgot about the misterious gift and special fate that ERU has for the race of men, a gift that even the valar will envy in time wich is death and went for all the marbles and failed. We cant blame the Valar for the fate of the numenoreans, (even tough i think Eru over reacted in sinking the whole island!!!
), they had it coming for rising up and making war against the valar wich makes me wonder...how exactly did Ar-pharazon managed to get to the blessed realm?? would any other numenorean good or bad would have succeded in such a quest? this was not "Luck". if the Valar would have wanted to, they could have Ulmo or better yet Ossë because of his violent temper, sink all of the fleet in a blink of an eye, so why exactly did they let Ar-pharazón pass?? to set an example? to whom if they intended to destroy the island? i dont know
but i wonder what you think and sorry for deviating a little bit from the main thread line...
