To repel (repulse) an attack/ counter-attack
We fought back against his power, refusing to give up or be persuaded.
("And to the spirit of judgment to sit in judgment, and to the strength of those who turn back from war, a hair's breadth" - Isaiah 28:6, and also: "And he answered and said to them: To you, O men, I call/ Who turn back from war, a hair's breadth!/ Is there no fear of the Lord on your faces/ And if there is no justice among you?" - Yehuda El-Harizi (12th century)/ The Rooster the Preacher)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
הֵשִׁיב מִלְחָמָה שָׁעְרָה
Definition (Hebrew)
נִלְחָם בַּחֲזָרָה כְּנֶגֶד תָּקְפּוֹ מִבְּלִי לְוַתֵּר אוֹ לְהִכָּנַע.
("וּלְרוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט לַיּוֹשֵׁב עַל הַמִּשְׁפָּט וְלִגְבוּרָה מְשִׁיבֵי מִלְחָמָה שָׁעְרָה"- יְשַׁעְיָהוּ כֹּחַ ו, וְכֵן:"וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם: אֲלֵיכֶם, אִישִׁים, אֶקְרָא/ מְשִׁיבֵי מִלְחָמָה שְׂעָרָהּ!/ הָאֵין יִרְאַת ה' עַל פְּנֵיכֶם/ וְאִם אֵין מִשְׁפַּט צֶדֶק בֵּינֵיכֶם?"-יְהוּדָה אַלְחַרִיזִי (הַמֵּאָה הי"ב)/ הַתַּרְנְגוֹל הַדַּרְשָׁן)