“And they were very afraid, and the children of Yisrael cried out to Hashem” (Shemos 14:10): at once they took hold of the craft of their fathers, the craft of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. Of Avraham it says, “Beis El on the west and Ai on the east; and he built an altar there, and called in the Name of Hashem” (Bereishis 12:8), [and] “He planted an eshel in Be’er Sheva, etc. [and called there in the Name of Hashem]” (Bereishis 21:33). Of Yitzchak it says, “And Yitzchak came from going to Be’er Lachai Ro’i” (Bereishis 24:62), and it is written, “And Yitzchak went out to speak [lasuach] in the field” (Bereishis 24:63); and sichah, speech, means nothing but prayer, as it says, “Evening, morning and noon I speak [asichah] and moan, and He hears my voice” (Tehillim 55:18), and it is written, “I pour out my speech [sichi] before Him; I tell my trouble before Him, etc.” (Tehillim 142:3), and it is written, “A prayer of the poor man when he is faint, and before Hashem, etc. [he pours out his speech]” (Tehillim 102:1). Of Yaakov what does it say? “And he encountered [vayifga] the place and lodged there, because the sun had set” (Bereishis 28:11); and pegiah, encountering, means nothing but prayer, as it says, “And you, do not pray for this people, and do not raise for them a cry or a prayer, and do not entreat [tifga] Me” (Yirmiyahu 7:16), and it is written, “Let them entreat [yifge’u] Hashem, Master of Legions, that the vessels that are left in the House of Hashem not go [to Bavel]” (Yirmiyahu 27:18). And so it says, “Do not fear, worm of Yaakov, men of Yisrael” (Yeshayahu 41:14): just as this worm strikes the cedar only with its mouth, so Yisrael have nothing but prayer. And it says, “And I have given you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Emori with my sword and with my bow” (Bereishis 48:22). Did he take it with his sword and his bow? Rather, it is to tell you: “my sword” is prayer, “my bow” [kashti] is supplication [bakashah]. And so it says, “Yehudah is a lion’s cub, etc.” (Bereishis 49:9), and it says, “And this is for Yehudah, and he said: Hear, Hashem, the voice of Yehudah” (Devarim 33:7). And so Yirmiyahu said, “Cursed is the man who trusts in people” (Yirmiyahu 17:5); and of prayer what does it say? “Blessed is the man who trusts in Hashem, and Hashem will be his security” (Yirmiyahu 17:7). And so David said to Golyas, “You come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the Name of Hashem, Master of Legions, the G-d of Yisrael” (Shmuel I 17:45); and it is written, “Some with chariots and some with horses, but we make mention of the Name of Hashem our G-d. They bent and fell, but we rose and stood firm. Hashem, save! May the King answer us on the day we call” (Tehillim 20:8–10). And so of Asa it says, “And Asa called to Hashem his G-d and said: Hashem, with You it is no different to help the many or the powerless. Help us, my G-d, for on You we rely, and in Your Name we have come against this multitude. Hashem, You are our G-d; let no man prevail against You” (Divrei HaYamim II 14:10).