In his deathbed declaration to his son Yosef, the Patriarch Yaakov awarded him the city of Shechem "which I took from the Emorites with my sword and bow."

Although this would seem to be a reference to a physical conquest of that city, Onkelos explains that it actually means his prayers, which enabled his sons to achieve that victory.

This should serve as a reminder that military actions, although they require a physical effort, depend for their success on the spiritual strength of the nation.

While our enemies, in the words of the Psalmist, "come with chariots and horses", we "call out in the name of G-d" with the result that they fall while we rise in triumph for Israel forever.

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