How they lifted the stone off the well.

This article describes research from scholars at my Alma Mater who suggest that the belief that one is acting morally or immorally can lead to greater physical strength.   I reflect back on the stories of Jacob and Moses rolling giant stones off the well.  Similarly, in Rabbinic Literature, the sage Reish Lakish is able to jump across a river in a single bound when he has an illicit intent, but then once he gives up that intent, he is not able to jump back.