The Bronze Bow

by

Elizabeth George Speare

Samson Character Analysis

Samson is an enslaved man whom Rosh’s group steals from a passing caravan. Daniel is placed in charge of him. Samson doesn’t appear to understand Daniel’s language, but after Daniel removes Samson’s chains, Samson becomes deeply attached and loyal to him. Samson is immensely strong, which is the only thing most people value about him, but Daniel takes the time to talk to Samson and grows fond of him. When Daniel leads a raid to rescue Joel, Samson leaps into the action at the last moment and saves Daniel’s life. He is fatally wounded in the fray.

Samson Quotes in The Bronze Bow

The The Bronze Bow quotes below are all either spoken by Samson or refer to Samson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Love vs. Vengeance Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

Why did I come here? he thought. Already he yearned to be away from this place. Hunger gnawed at him. Up on the mountain the men would be still sitting about the fire, their stomachs satisfied […] He wondered if Joktan had made sure that Samson had enough to eat. He wondered how long the man had waited at the top of the trail. Suddenly he flung himself on his face and buried his head in his arms and could have wept for homesickness.

Related Characters: Daniel bar Jamin, Samson, Joktan
Page Number: 42
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

[Daniel] was almost at the point of tears. Yet in the same instant such a fierce resentment sprang up in him that he dared not look his friend in the face. […] Everyone—the doctor, Leah, the neighbors, and now Simon, took it for granted that he had come home to stay. […] What about his life on the mountain? What about Rosh and Samson, and the work that must be done in the cave? Wasn’t that more important than a few farmers who wanted their wheels mended? Everything he loved […] the irresponsible life, the excitement of the raids, rose up and fought off the shackles that Simon held out to him in kindness.

Related Characters: Daniel bar Jamin, Leah, Rosh, Samson, Simon the Zealot
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

In the darkness the same words echoed over and over. “They who live by the sword will perish by the sword.” […] Jesus had spoken them on a hot summer morning under a blue sky. Daniel had not questioned the words. To live by the sword was the best life he knew. To take the sword for his country’s freedom and to perish by it—what better could a man hope for? But something he had not reckoned on had happened. He had taken the sword, but Samson, instead, had perished by it, who had no freedom to gain, and Nathan, who had left behind a bride. Their deaths were on his head. And freedom was farther away than before.

Related Characters: Jesus (speaker), Daniel bar Jamin, Samson, Nathan
Page Number: 213
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21 Quotes

“[Samson] did not give you vengeance. He gave you love. There is no greater love than that, that a man should lay down his life for his friend. Think, Daniel, can you repay such love with hate?”

“It’s too late to love Samson. He is probably dead.” Then, as Jesus waited, “Should I love the Romans who killed him?” he asked with bitterness.

Jesus smiled. “You think that is impossible, don’t you? Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.”

Related Characters: Daniel bar Jamin (speaker), Jesus (speaker), Samson
Page Number: 224
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Bronze Bow LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Bronze Bow PDF

Samson Quotes in The Bronze Bow

The The Bronze Bow quotes below are all either spoken by Samson or refer to Samson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Love vs. Vengeance Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

Why did I come here? he thought. Already he yearned to be away from this place. Hunger gnawed at him. Up on the mountain the men would be still sitting about the fire, their stomachs satisfied […] He wondered if Joktan had made sure that Samson had enough to eat. He wondered how long the man had waited at the top of the trail. Suddenly he flung himself on his face and buried his head in his arms and could have wept for homesickness.

Related Characters: Daniel bar Jamin, Samson, Joktan
Page Number: 42
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

[Daniel] was almost at the point of tears. Yet in the same instant such a fierce resentment sprang up in him that he dared not look his friend in the face. […] Everyone—the doctor, Leah, the neighbors, and now Simon, took it for granted that he had come home to stay. […] What about his life on the mountain? What about Rosh and Samson, and the work that must be done in the cave? Wasn’t that more important than a few farmers who wanted their wheels mended? Everything he loved […] the irresponsible life, the excitement of the raids, rose up and fought off the shackles that Simon held out to him in kindness.

Related Characters: Daniel bar Jamin, Leah, Rosh, Samson, Simon the Zealot
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

In the darkness the same words echoed over and over. “They who live by the sword will perish by the sword.” […] Jesus had spoken them on a hot summer morning under a blue sky. Daniel had not questioned the words. To live by the sword was the best life he knew. To take the sword for his country’s freedom and to perish by it—what better could a man hope for? But something he had not reckoned on had happened. He had taken the sword, but Samson, instead, had perished by it, who had no freedom to gain, and Nathan, who had left behind a bride. Their deaths were on his head. And freedom was farther away than before.

Related Characters: Jesus (speaker), Daniel bar Jamin, Samson, Nathan
Page Number: 213
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21 Quotes

“[Samson] did not give you vengeance. He gave you love. There is no greater love than that, that a man should lay down his life for his friend. Think, Daniel, can you repay such love with hate?”

“It’s too late to love Samson. He is probably dead.” Then, as Jesus waited, “Should I love the Romans who killed him?” he asked with bitterness.

Jesus smiled. “You think that is impossible, don’t you? Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.”

Related Characters: Daniel bar Jamin (speaker), Jesus (speaker), Samson
Page Number: 224
Explanation and Analysis: