Learning War Strategy From the Yeitzer Hara

Learning War Strategy From the Yeitzer Hara:

Sefer Toldos Yaakov Yosef (Parshas Bechukosai) quotes the Baal Shem Tov zy”a as saying that one must learn strategies for war from the yeitzer hara. The yeitzer hara does his job with alacrity. He always seeks new ways to convince a person to sin. He was created by Hashem in order to test a person, and he does this mission energetically. We must learn from him to also be persistent and crafty. We must devotedly perform our mission in life – to overcome the yeitzer hara by rising above the challenges he presents.

Thus, the pasuk is saying that we meant to “take captives”, by grabbing the yeitzer hara’s strategy and using it against him.