Evil for Good: To Joab
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In the biblical narrative, the concept of "evil for good" is poignantly illustrated in the actions and character of Joab, the commander of King David's army. Joab's life and decisions provide a complex study of loyalty, ambition, and moral ambiguity within the context of ancient Israel's history.

Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was a key military leader under King David. His role is chronicled extensively in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. Despite his loyalty to David, Joab's actions often reflect a willingness to commit morally questionable acts to achieve his ends, sometimes repaying good with evil.

One of the most notable instances of Joab's treachery is his murder of Abner, the commander of Saul's army. After Abner sought to make peace with David and bring the tribes of Israel under his rule, Joab deceitfully lured Abner back to Hebron and killed him in cold blood. This act was not only a personal vendetta—since Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel in battle—but also a political maneuver to eliminate a rival. David lamented this act, saying, "May the guilt fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house" (2 Samuel 3:29, BSB).

Joab's actions can be seen as a betrayal of David's trust and a direct contradiction to the king's desire for peace and unity in Israel. Despite David's condemnation, Joab retained his position, highlighting the tension between political necessity and moral integrity.

Another significant episode is Joab's involvement in the death of Absalom, David's son, during Absalom's rebellion. Despite David's explicit command to "deal gently" with Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5, BSB), Joab killed him, prioritizing the stability of the kingdom over the king's personal wishes. This act, while arguably pragmatic, again demonstrated Joab's tendency to repay good intentions with ruthless actions.

Joab's life culminates in his support for Adonijah's claim to the throne, against David's wishes for Solomon to succeed him. This final act of defiance led to his execution on Solomon's orders, as recorded in 1 Kings 2:28-34. Solomon's decision to execute Joab was seen as a fulfillment of David's dying instructions to deal with Joab's past treacheries, thus bringing justice for the evil he had committed.

Throughout the biblical account, Joab's character serves as a cautionary tale of how personal ambition and a lack of moral restraint can lead to repaying good with evil. His life is a reminder of the complexities of human nature and the consequences of actions that contradict divine and moral law.
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1 Kings 2:4,5,6
That the LORD may continue his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
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'More than Conquerors through Him'
... Does not Joab's pledge of mutual help carry in it a lesson ... In the presence of the
coalition of evil, is not the separation of the friends of good, madness? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/more than conquerors through him.htm

Advice for the Direction of Holy Zeal.
... But Joab being engaged, and being hot in the pursuit of ... Even so, zeal employs anger
against the evil, yet ever with ... That good man of the house whom our Saviour ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xv advice for the.htm

Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
... he shall have victory and success; but I can say, as Joab (1:Chron.19 ... The sinner
must be regarded not only as impotent to do good but as delighting in evil. ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter eight sovereignty and human.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... to give offices and countenance to evil men, which ... men take all opportunities to
hurt others, especially good men, and so ... 12:6; Micah 7:5. Cain, Joab, and Judas ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
... When Absalom set Joab's corn on fire, then he came running to Absalom
(2 Samuel 14:30). ... The evil of temptation works for good. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the worst things work for.htm

The Wail of a Broken Heart
... David forebodes evil, and, with the monotony of a ... were elements in David's mourning
which were not good. ... king in the father, and Joab's unfeeling remonstrance ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the wail of a broken.htm

The Way of Life and the Way of Death.
... thou undergo the fate of Cain, and of Saul, and of Joab: for the ... to goodness, or
to righteous judgment: they watch not for good, but for evil; from whom ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on the two ways.htm

Of Civil Government.
... son the bloody testament, not to allow the grey hairs of Joab and Shimei ... them, and
(this is their only victory) strive to overcome evil with good (Rom.12 ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

David's Sin.
... kindly with him, and found him a good and faithful ... two armies met Uriah was killed,
and Joab sent a ... and taken his wife for himself; therefore evil would befall ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxiv davids sin.htm

God's Banished Ones
... Joab, the astute Commander-in- chief, a devoted friend of David, saw how the ... of God's
law, and, untampered with, the eternal gulf between good and evil. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/gods banished ones.htm

Resources
What are evil spirits? | GotQuestions.org

Did God create evil? | GotQuestions.org

What is Plantinga's free will defense, and how does it address the problem of evil? | GotQuestions.org

Evil: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Evil for Good: To Joab

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Related Terms

Evil-speaking (5 Occurrences)

Evil-doings (5 Occurrences)

Evil-merodach (2 Occurrences)

Evil-speakings (3 Occurrences)

Evil-minded (1 Occurrence)

Evil-speakers (2 Occurrences)

Evil-smelling (2 Occurrences)

Evil-surmisings (1 Occurrence)

Evil-workers (1 Occurrence)

Evil-treated (1 Occurrence)

Evil-exactly (1 Occurrence)

Evil-spoken (1 Occurrence)

Evil-entreated (1 Occurrence)

Evil-disposed (1 Occurrence)

Evil-affected (1 Occurrence)

Evil-doer (88 Occurrences)

Evil-doers (122 Occurrences)

Evil-favoredness

Evil-doing (106 Occurrences)

Evil-mero'dach (1 Occurrence)

Stubbornness (14 Occurrences)

Arrogance (30 Occurrences)

Schemes (25 Occurrences)

Spreads (31 Occurrences)

Shuns (5 Occurrences)

Senses (12 Occurrences)

Speakings (3 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Adversity (54 Occurrences)

Sends (94 Occurrences)

Actions (62 Occurrences)

Speaking (376 Occurrences)

Vile (59 Occurrences)

Abundance (194 Occurrences)

Sorcery (10 Occurrences)

Smite (230 Occurrences)

Quench (14 Occurrences)

Seeks (48 Occurrences)

Sexual (59 Occurrences)

Sinning (59 Occurrences)

Safe (388 Occurrences)

Simple (40 Occurrences)

Sinner (88 Occurrences)

Arts (48 Occurrences)

Stored (55 Occurrences)

Arrogant (60 Occurrences)

Sinners (132 Occurrences)

Account (460 Occurrences)

Speedily (38 Occurrences)

Abel (22 Occurrences)

Spirits (129 Occurrences)

Stoned (38 Occurrences)

Keeps (154 Occurrences)

Son's (34 Occurrences)

Arrogancy (16 Occurrences)

Adventure (3 Occurrences)

Avenger (18 Occurrences)

Affect (3 Occurrences)

Astartes (5 Occurrences)

Avoids (3 Occurrences)

Abounding (28 Occurrences)

Agony (20 Occurrences)

Abuse (17 Occurrences)

Ahira (5 Occurrences)

Selfish (14 Occurrences)

Shrewd (14 Occurrences)

Statements (22 Occurrences)

Speakest (30 Occurrences)

State (51 Occurrences)

Snared (11 Occurrences)

Spy (27 Occurrences)

Slanderer (5 Occurrences)

Seemly (10 Occurrences)

Sensuality (9 Occurrences)

Sicknesses (15 Occurrences)

Stoics (1 Occurrence)

Stubbornly (10 Occurrences)

Shun (14 Occurrences)

Seeds (24 Occurrences)

Evil for Good: Saul Returns, to David
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