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Symbols
When Daniel, Joel, and Malthace vow to stand together for God’s victory, they agree that a bronze bow will be the symbol of their pact and mission. The image comes from Psalm 18, “He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” Since it’s not actually possible for someone to bend bronze, Malthace suggests that the bow symbolizes the strength God grants which enables people to do what seems impossible. At this point, the friends believe that “God’s victory”—the arrival of his kingdom—means defeating the Roman occupiers of Palestine. Accordingly, the bow also becomes the symbol for Daniel’s amateur band of freedom fighters, who resist and harass the Romans. As Daniel’s band falters and he later parts ways with the Zealot Rosh, however, he becomes disillusioned with the idea that God will bring victory through violence. After getting to know Jesus, Daniel accepts that God’s victory—“[bending] the bow of bronze”—refers to the triumph of love over hatred. This triumph can only occur once Daniel surrenders to Jesus, trusting that though he doesn’t understand how, God’s kingdom will arrive by means of love and forgiveness instead of the self-perpetuating cycle of hatred and killing.
Bronze Bow Quotes in The Bronze Bow
The The Bronze Bow quotes below all refer to the symbol of Bronze Bow. 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:
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Chapter 7
Quotes
“God is my strong refuge,
and has made my way safe.
He made my feet like hinds’ feet,
and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
“It couldn't really be bronze,” said Daniel, puzzled. “The strongest man could not bend a bow of bronze.”
“No,” Thacia spoke. “I think it was really bronze. I think David meant a bow that a man couldn't bend—that when God strengthens us we can do something that seems impossible.”
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Chapter 24
Quotes
Unable to endure that smile, Daniel bent his head. Suddenly, with a longing that was more than he could bear, he wanted to stop fighting against this man. He knew that he would give everything he possessed in life to follow Jesus.
Even his vow?
He tried to cling again to the words of David that had always strengthened him. He trains my hands for war—
But Jesus said that the Victory was God’s promise. He called men to make ready their hearts and minds instead.
Was it possible that only love could bend the bow of bronze?
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Bronze Bow Symbol Timeline in The Bronze Bow
The timeline below shows where the symbol Bronze Bow appears in The Bronze Bow. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 7
...to let his friends know he’s there. They agree that the sign should be a bow—like the “bow of bronze” mentioned in one of David’s Psalms.
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After the twins leave, Daniel feels warmth as he thinks about the imagery of the bow and the loyalty of his new friends. He decides that tomorrow, even though it’s the...
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Chapter 8
...early, so Daniel decides to visit his friends first. He scratches the symbol of the bow on the wall outside the passageway at Hezron’s house and crawls inside. After a long...
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Chapter 12
...the best way to proceed, Joel jumps in to suggest the symbol of the bronze bow: it can be their password. Within a few weeks, 16 young men have joined. They...
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Chapter 15
...wire, he heats it again and carefully twists the wire into the shape of a bow. Then he fits a bronze pin into the bronze bow, making a brooch, like the...
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Chapter 16
...like to offer Thacia one. He takes out the little brooch shaped like a bronze bow. She chose the symbol, Daniel continues, and to him, it’s come to symbolize everything they...
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Chapter 24
...and minds. Suddenly Daniel wonders if love is what is able to bend the bronze bow. He realizes he can’t know for sure. But he remembers Simon’s words—he has to make...
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