Courage

Many biblical characters display courage, like the midwives who defy Pharaoh's decree to kill Jewish babies or Queen Esther, who exposes the plan of the evil Haman to King Ahasuerus. The charge to "be strong and courageous" appears several times throughout the Bible, especially to the character of Joshua as he prepares to lead the people into the land of Israel. Maimonides counts the prohibition of fearing the enemy and deserting battle as one of the commandments, and other rabbinic, Chasidic, and kabbalistic sources analyze the merits and qualities necessary to achieve courage.