Today, let's delve into a fascinating, almost unbelievable, tale from the life of Jacob: his war with the Ninevites.
According to Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg, after the incident at Shechem, where Simon and Levi took drastic action, fear rippled through the surrounding lands. The neighboring peoples reasoned, if just two of Jacob’s sons could devastate a city like Shechem, what would the entire family accomplish together?
So, Jacob, with his family and possessions, decided to head towards his father Isaac. But their journey was far from peaceful. After eight days of travel, they encountered a formidable army dispatched from Nineveh. Their mission? To extract tribute from the world and bring everyone under their dominion. Imagine their surprise, or rather, their fury, when they heard what had happened to Shechem at the hands of Jacob's sons. War was on their minds.
Now, Jacob, ever the patriarch, reassured his sons: "Fear not, God will be your helper, and He will fight for you against your enemies." But there was a condition. “You must put away from you the strange gods in your possession, and you must purify yourselves, and wash your garments clean." It's a reminder that even in times of war, spiritual purity and devotion to God were paramount.
Then, armed and ready, Jacob himself led the charge. In the initial assault, he slew twelve thousand of the weaker soldiers, a testament to his strength and commitment. But the battle was far from over. Judah, seeing his father's exhaustion, stepped forward, "Father, thou art tired and exhausted, let me fight the enemy alone."
Jacob, recognizing Judah's exceptional bravery, responded, "Judah, my son, I know thy strength and thy bravery, that they are exceeding great, so that none in the world is like unto thee therein." Can you picture this scene? The passing of the torch, the trust in his son's abilities? Judah, his face like a lion’s, attacked with unmatched ferocity, slaying twelve myriads – that’s 120,000! – of seasoned warriors. The battle raged fiercely, and Levi joined his brother, together achieving victory. Judah alone slew another five thousand, while Levi’s blows were so powerful that enemies fell like grain before a reaper, as Legends of the Jews dramatically puts it.
The people of Nineveh, witnessing this extraordinary display of strength, began to waver. "How long shall we fight with these devils? Let us return to our land, lest they exterminate us root and branch, without leaving a remnant." Their king, however, wouldn't allow it. He rallied them, reminding them of their past conquests and urging them to stand their ground. They sent messengers for reinforcements, and renewed the assault.
Jacob, ever the strategist, positioned his twelve sons strategically, leaving gaps between them. He, armed with a sword and bow, faced the enemy head-on. The fight was desperate. He fought left and right, inflicting heavy losses. At one point, surrounded by two thousand men, he leapt over them and vanished. Legends of the Jews tells us he slew 220,000 that day! But the battle was far from over.
Ninety thousand more Ninevites appeared, forcing Jacob to continue fighting. His sword even broke, and he resorted to grinding rocks into powder to blind his enemies. Finally, darkness fell, offering a brief respite.
The next day, Judah again stepped up, offering to take his father's place. The Ninevites were terrified by Judah’s lion-like appearance and voice. He moved like a whirlwind, slaying 80,096 men before exhaustion overcame him. Zebulon then took his place, mowing down another 80,000. Judah, regaining his strength, unleashed a thunderous roar and sent the army fleeing.
But the war wasn't over. The Ninevites returned the following day. Issachar and Gad took up the fight, slaying 48,000 warriors and driving another 120,000 into a cave. They then set the cave on fire, forcing the remaining soldiers to emerge and fight. Dan and Naphtali rushed to their brothers' aid, and together they continued the battle.
On the third day, the Ninevites received reinforcements, an army as vast as the sands of the sea. All of Jacob's sons united to meet the challenge, routing the enemy. But when they pursued the fleeing soldiers, the Ninevites turned and fought back. "Why should we run away? Let us rather fight them, perhaps we may be victorious, now they are weary."
Seeing his children under attack, Jacob himself rejoined the fray, striking blows on all sides. Yet, the Ninevites managed to separate Judah from his brothers. Jacob whistled, and Judah responded, his brothers rushing to his aid. Judah, parched with thirst, struck the ground with his finger, and water miraculously gushed forth. Seeing this, the Ninevites cried out, "I will flee before these devils, for God fights on their side," and they fled in terror.
After the battle, the sons of Jacob realized Joseph was missing. Naphtali found him still fighting the Ninevites, and together they vanquished the remaining soldiers. With the war finally over, Jacob and his family continued their journey to Isaac.
What does this incredible story tell us? It's more than just a war story. It's about faith, family, and the unwavering strength to overcome seemingly impossible odds. It's a reminder that even when faced with overwhelming forces, belief in God, unity, and courage can lead to victory. The Midrash Rabbah and the Zohar are filled with these types of stories, meant to instill courage and faith in the Jewish people throughout the generations. It makes you wonder, what "Ninevite armies" are we facing in our own lives, and how can we channel the spirit of Jacob and his sons to overcome them?