Are you allowed to be happy when something bad happens to someone else? Let me be more specific. The “someone” else? He was a pretty bad guy. And the thing that happened was ultimately good for you and the people around you – namely, the free Western World. I’m referring to the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh and Faud Shukr, and earlier in the month, Muhammad Deif. The question though can be universal. Replace any of these names with a top bad-guy. Adolf Hitler, The Green Goblin from Spider Man, Haman from the Book of Esther, and of course the most notorious of Biblical Bad Guys, Amalek. What does the Bible have to say about being happy when someone truly evil and truly bad dies? How can we reconcile our joy that someone set for our annihilation is dead – while simultaneously respecting the commandment to preserve all human life?
This ethical dilemma has deep roots in biblical tradition. The Hebrew Bible of course provides several examples that guide us in how we are meant to approach the death of those considered wicked or enemies.
One of the most striking examples comes from the story of David and Saul. Despite Saul’s relentless pursuit of David, David’s reaction to Saul’s death is one of genuine grief and respect.
David’s response demonstrates a profound respect for the office Saul held as the anointed king of Israel, regardless of his personal actions against David. It teaches us that one can acknowledge the complexity of a person’s life and role, separating personal grievances from the broader impact of their position and the tragedy of their fall. Now – it’s worth noting that with truly evil people there’s no nuance. But here the lesson is clear: despite all that David had been through – he chose the path of dignity and kindness for his own sake, and for the sake of his future.
Another example is found in the book of Ezekiel, where God expresses His attitude towards the wicked:
Here we see a divine perspective on how to view the demise of evildoers. The ideal response is not a celebration but a somber reflection on the lost opportunity for teshuva the Hebrew concept of returning and repair.
Proverbs continues to shed light on how we should respond to the deaths of the most evil:
In reality, though, humans are complex. And when a truly horrible person dies, it often symbolizes a change for the better. Why shouldn’t we celebrate that? In many ways, we should. But what the Bible is trying to tell us – is that we shouldn’t stoop to the level of the truly evil, and celebrate death with a total disregard for life. Rather, we should not let our own lives be in vain. Be kind, “seize the day”, and don’t waste a moment on these horrible people: rather take every opportunity to make your moments count.
We see this best in the commandment to blot out the name of Amalek, the arch-enemy of the Jewish people.
In this verse God is telling us – we have a gift. It is the opportunity to fulfill his wishes, to be in the land of Israel, and to follow the moral and ethical code of the Bible. And the best way we can do that is by never becoming the evil that is Amalek. What do we do when someone evil dies? We are commanded to do the opposite of everything that they stood for. Blot out evil from our hearts, and never forget who we really are and the good we are capable of doing.
Ultimately? Our challenge, especially in today’s world when it feels like there’s so much evil around us, is to rise above base instincts of revenge or celebration at an enemy’s downfall. Instead, take every opportunity to be compassionate, to be someone who celebrates life, and to be someone who walks through life in a Godly, and meaningful way.
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