Reluctant Warrior - Jacob
BY MOSHE KATZ 
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL

December 14, 2024, Israel

History records that there were many warlike nations, such as Rome, who believed that war was necessary for man to remain manly. In Rome there was a period of 12 years without war, and as recorded in the book Pax Romana (Adrian Keith Goldsworthy), it was deemed too long a period, and therefore, for the sake of the men, Rome went out to war. 

It has often been said that Rome and Jerusalem were opposites. 

In the Bible we have a clear message that war is to be avoided as much as possible, pray for peace but prepare for war. We are called the Children of Israel, and Israel is another name for Jacob, for Jacob's name was changed from Jacob to Israel after his struggle with the angel of Esau. 

To me Jacob was a reluctant warrior, and this tradition has continued down to this very day. (Please see my book, Israel: A Nation of Warriors). Israel today, despite what the world propaganda says, is a nation that does everything possible to avoid war. We take thousands of missiles before we decide to finally retaliate, we absorb dozens of terrorist attacks before we finally go to war. War is a last resort; violence is a last resort. We are all reluctant warriors.

Jacob is described early in his life as a peaceful man, "a dweller of tents", i.e. one who tends to the flocks, to the family business. Unlike his brother Esau, the hunter, he shows no inclination to violence. His nature is one who wishes to avoid conflict, and yet his life leads him into conflict; physical and political. 

First, he gets entangled with his violent brother, and his mother sends him away, to be safe, until his brother's "anger subsides". "Arise and flee to my brother Laban, to Haran. Tarry with him for some time, until your brother's fury turns away from you."(Genesis 27) Jacob departed from Beer Sheva, and went toward Haran. (Genesis Chapter 28, 10)

After his long journey he must deal with his deceitful uncle, Laban the Aaramite, (Laven Ha Aarami, Hebrew) who deceives him night and day. For 20 years Jacob toiled under the rod of Laban. And then Jacob had to personally wrestle a man known as the guardian angel of Esau in hand-to-hand combat that lasted until the break of dawn. And finally, he had to face his violent brother Esau, who had sworn to kill him as soon as he could. When Jacob was on his return to the land of his fathers, to the land of Israel, he was informed that Esau was coming towards him with an army of 400 men and his intentions were not peaceful. That is a lot for a man who wanted nothing but to tend to his flock and raise his family, a dweller of tents. 

Let's look at some of these relationship challenges. He had a struggle with his brother Esau, according to the Bible, from the womb. In the womb of Rivka their mother they were already fighting, she reported that it was such a difficult pregnancy she did not want to carry on. Things only got worse as they grew into adulthood. You can read the Bible for all the details. Jacob does not know how to handle this situation, so his mother guides him, and then sends him away to avoid being killed by his brother after their father's death. 

Jacob falls in love with Rachel and works long and hard to "earn" her from her father Laban. On the morning following his wedding Jacob discovers that he was deceived and given the homely older sister, Leah. During their entire working relationship, Jacob tends the flocks of Laban but does not receive adequate compensation. "You demanded restitution from me for sheep that were stolen from your flock during the day and during the night. I lived in such a way that during the day the drought consumed me, and the frost at night, and sleep was absent from my eyes.  It is now twenty years that I have been in your house, I have worked for you fourteen years in return for your two daughters, and six years for your flocks, and you altered my wages ten times."(Genesis, 31)   Finally, Jacob runs away with his family, only to be pursued by Laban and his men.  After this he sends out messengers to seek his brother and see what his intentions are, only to discover that his brother is heading his way with a posse of 400 armed men. Jacob is alone with 4 wives and a dozen children, plus slow-moving cattle. Not a great situation but Jacob must deal with this. He pursues a policy of political appeasement along with military planning. It is said that when Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin was on the plane to the USA to meet the American and Egyptian presidents for the Camp David Peace Talks, he studied this Biblical chapter of Jacob. 

My friend Steve S. commented to me that he sees Jacob as a story of personal growth, growth through adversity and overcoming challenges. My friend Asher G. said that in order for Jacob to prepare for his role in our history, he had to face these challenges, he had to overcome these obstacles. 

Now when Jacob and Esau finally meet, Jacob acts very humble, offers gifts and declares that though he has spent many years with Laban, he has not become like him. And though he has spent many years outside of his homeland, he remained a stranger among the people of Aram. Thus, we see that though Jacob/Israel has learnt a great deal through these struggles and has, reluctantly, become a warrior, he has never lost his innocence, "I have lived with Laban" but I remain Jacob.

But the rabbis point out another message, another layer of Jacobs' personality, a veiled threat. I have lived among Laban and his kind for many years, hint: the fact that I survived that long among them indicates that I have learned their ways, I can fight, if I need to, I can wrestle, I can manipulate with the best of them, if you want to fight, know that I can handle it, I am not the same naive little boy you knew many years ago. But I seek peace, I am still inherently a man of peace, but don't push it, don't take me for granted, for I am trained in the art of military tactics, combat, war and strategy! 

I have become a warrior, but I remain a man of peace. We are peaceful warriors, reluctant warriors, but tough as nails if you challenge us or attack us. That is the legacy of Jacob, that is the Israel Defense Forces of our own times. that is our Krav Maga attitude. We have not lost our tent dweller peacefulness, but we have become fierce fighters, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”  (Genesis 27:22)

MosheLA2023

Moshe Katz, training continuously for nearly 4 decades, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt hall of fame, USA and Europe.

Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz

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What is the cultural background of Krav Maga?  What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?

What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?

What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?

How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?

All that and more in this unique book.  (Available on Amazon in paperback or kindle)

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