The Bronze Bow: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Daniel leads a small funeral procession to the outskirts of the village. After the burial, he meets Simon on his way home. Simon and Daniel eat a silent funeral feast, provided by the neighbors, outside his house. Then Simon gently prods Daniel about his plans. He tells Daniel that he has given up his smithy since beginning to follow Jesus—it would be a favor to him, he says, if Daniel would take it over. All at once, Daniel is filled with both gratitude and resentment. What would this mean for his life on the mountain?

Daniel realizes he’s trapped. He can’t leave Leah to fend for herself. Miserable, he gives in. Simon suggests that he and Leah move into the house adjoining his shop; that way, Daniel can keep an eye on Leah while he works. He doesn’t say a word about the sorry condition of Daniel’s house. He keeps his tone practical as he advises Daniel on the ins and outs of his business.

When Simon warns Daniel that Roman legionaries sometimes come to the shop, Daniel’s anger flares. He says he will never serve Romans. But Simon tells him he will have to learn to do so. In the village, each person holds their neighbor’s safety in their hands. Therefore, insulting a soldier could endanger the entire town. Simon comforts Daniel with the reminder that Zealots sometimes visit the shop, too.

When Daniel approaches Rosh with his news, Rosh scorns him—it’s proof that Daniel is as “soft” as he’s suspected. But Daniel says he’ll prove Rosh wrong. He will keep fighting for the cause within Ketzah. The next day he gathers the few belongings in his grandmother’s house and gently explains to Leah what’s happening. But when he opens the front door, Leah shrinks from the gaze of neighbors. Daniel quickly realizes that forcing Leah to leave would backfire.

Later that day, just as Daniel is giving up, he hears a knock at the door. A smiling old carpenter has brought a litter—a vehicle with sewn-together cloaks for curtains. He explains that his wife helped him prepare it, and there are men standing ready to carry it. This way, Leah can ride to her new home without being seen by strangers—like a biblical queen. Daniel feels like crying again. He explains the litter to Leah, giving her time to get used to the idea. At last, she agrees to go. Daniel tucks her into the litter and follows it across town to Simon’s house, leading Leah’s goat.

At Simon’s house, Daniel becomes quite busy. It’s difficult to tend to the house and care for Leah at the same time—and then customers begin to arrive. But Daniel enjoys the challenge of impressing Simon’s old customers, who are cautious about him at first. He’s been practicing his skills for five years, and now he finally has proper tools to work with. He begins to gain a good reputation around town and to earn money for the first time.

Leah begins to settle down in her new life, too. She finds pleasure in small details, like brushing her long hair and arranging their belongings. She watches Daniel through the shop door all day, hiding whenever customers come in. One day, a man comes into the shop with fine linen. It turns out that he’s the servant of a rich woman from the town of Chorazin. This woman used to buy Leah’s woven cloth. Daniel is amazed to learn that Leah’s cloth is sought after. He gives her the linen and watches as she confidently threads her loom. Leah also begins to tend the overgrown backyard garden and help Daniel bake bread. Daniel realizes that, contrary to many people’s assumptions, Leah has never lost her wits. However, Leah is still weak and fretful, rendered helpless for days by a small fright.

One day a Roman legionary appears in the shop. Daniel ignores the man for a long time. When he reluctantly gets to work on the man’s broken bridle ring, he watches the soldier out of the corner of his eye. He’s surprised to see that the soldier is a young man Joel’s age, pale-skinned and likely new at his post. But when he notices the man staring through the shop door at Leah, Daniel slams the door angrily. He feels that the man’s gaze defiles his sister. That night he thinks of his comrades on the mountain again.