The Bronze Bow

Leah is Daniel’s 16-year-old sister, with “long golden hair [that] streamed around her shoulders […] Her eyes, blue as the ketzah blossom” (130). After witnessing her father’s crucifixion at the age of five, Leah never leaves the house nor allows any outsider to enter and see her. Though most people fear the demons they believe drive her, Daniel believes that Leah is good and harmless. Leah’s love for Daniel is pure and sincere. Due to her lack of exposure to the outside world, Leah is ignorant about the simplest of things. However, she takes pleasure in hearing Daniel’s descriptions of the world outside and of his interactions with Jesus. Malthace is the only person other than Daniel whom Leah trusts. She relishes Malthace’s visits and gifts and becomes a different person in Malthace’s presence. She takes pleasure in the small things such as brushing her hair, is surprisingly adept at sewing, gardening, and baking, and has an excellent, perceptive memory.

When she falls in love with a Roman soldier, Daniel’s cruel, fiery scolding drives Leah back to the demons. Leah is unaware of what it means to be Roman and simply sees Marcus as a young boy close to her age with yellow hair like her own. While Daniel doesn’t realize that Leah is falling in love, the narrator gives glimpses into her heart through her concern about whether she is pretty, her longing gazes in the mirror, and her awareness that the Roman soldier is homesick. Though Leah is the burden that keeps Daniel from being free, she serves as an anchor of love to keep Daniel from succumbing to hate and vengeance.

Joel bar Hezron is the son of a scribe who finds Daniel on the mountain while on a holiday. His well-off family moves to the city of Capernaum, where Joel furthers his scholarly education. Although there is a stark difference between his and Daniel’s background, the two boys develop a deep bond over their desire to free Israel and together vow to fight for God’s victory. In contrast with Daniel’s ability to use his hands, Joel leans towards scholarship and dreams of one day studying at a school in Jerusalem. However, he too idolizes Rosh and desires to join the cause against Rome in any way that he can. Despite his willingness to leave everything for the cause, he is relieved when Daniel insists that he will be of better use as a scholar.

Joel is a born leader who is adept at speaking and reading from sacred texts. He is also sociable and friendly—he finds the right words in even the most uncomfortable situations with ease. Unlike Daniel, he is capable of keeping a straight head in difficult situations. He earns Rosh’s favor by confidently standing his ground at their first meeting and skillfully learns to decipher gossip to obtain information. Though his family lives in luxury, he never looks down on Joel or makes him feel inferior. 

Malthace is Joel’s twin sister and Daniel’s love interest. Daniel admires her dark-haired, dark-eyed, vivid beauty, and contrasts it with Leah’s fragility. The development of her relationship with Daniel throughout the story maps Daniel’s journey from hatred towards love. She often puts words to Daniel’s deepest doubts, including whether Jesus will lead the Jews against Rome. Daniel often rebukes her when he is unable to argue with her statements, stating that such vows are not for women, or that a girl wouldn’t understand. Malthace, however, proves her wisdom and perception of many things, including Jesus’s intentions, the best course of action, and the appreciation of love and beauty.

In contrast with the typical domestic role of women in the historical context, Malthace proves to be strong willed, intelligent, and opinionated. Protective of Joel, she doesn’t wish for him to leave his life for one of fighting. However, she vows to fight for God’s victory alongside Daniel and Joel. It is Malthace’s idea to use the bronze bow from the Song of David as their sign, and she herself explains that bending a bow of bronze symbolizes God granting them strength to do the impossible. She confidently disguises herself as Joel when the need arises. Malthace humbly forgets the luxuries of her home when visiting Daniel and Leah, fitting in naturally. Other than Daniel, she is the only person to successfully reach Leah and earn her trust. She interacts with Leah using tender, gentle love and finesse. Malthace even dances naturally without trying to impress, simply loving the movement for its own sake.

She and Daniel develop a strong bond wherein he is able to share his deepest thoughts and fears with Malthace—he gives her the bronze bow he secretly fashioned, talks about Leah’s bad days, and shares his doubts about whether being healed is always a good thing. Despite Daniel’s rejection of her proclamation of love, her pride and confidence prevent her from hiding her emotions. Even when turning Malthace away, Daniel thinks only of her when Leah is dying. When Daniel finally gives in to love at the end of the story, she recognizes the change in Daniel and unwaveringly accepts him before forming a new vow with one glance.

Jesus is first introduced as a carpenter who has left his trade to preach from town to town. From the moment Daniel sets eyes on him, he sees Jesus is not like any normal human being. Though he dresses plainly, his face is vital and radiant. When he speaks, he pulls his audience into a trance that makes them oblivious to their surroundings. His eloquent speech and unique perception make Jewish Law easy to understand. He can heal the sick and lame with a touch or a word and never turns away a person coming to him for aid.

Jesus perceives and understands the source of Daniel’s troubles, suggesting that one cannot repay love with vengeance—only more love. His statement that the only thing stronger than hate is love puts words to Daniel’s internal conflict. His words often echo through Daniel’s mind in situations when he needs them most. His words, “They who live by the sword will perish by the sword” (212) echo in Daniel’s mind when Samson and Nathan perish; what Daniel once believed to be a righteous death for his country’s freedom turns out to be a reckoning for those he holds dear.

Historically the Son of God for the Christians and a Prophet for the Muslims, Jesus is explored through his intimate interactions with the characters. He becomes a symbol of hope for the Jews of Israel. Though the people wish for him to be king and lead the fight against Israel, Jesus insists that the kingdom can be obtained only through love and repentance. Jesus teaches his followers not to fear what men can do and that the only chains that matter are fear and hate, and he encourages love and acceptance. The author uses strong imagery in describing Jesus as framed in light upon his arrival at Daniel’s home; in Daniel’s time of need, his visit is the final push that rids both Daniel and Leah of their demons.

Rosh is the leader of the band of outlaws living on the mountain overlooking Galilee. He is a source of hope and the hero for many Jewish youth who dream of fighting and driving out the Romans. Rosh finds Daniel when Daniel runs away from his village, and he welcomes him into his band. Rosh exercises strict control over his followers and demands that Daniel rid himself of his soft spot if he wishes to be of use to the cause. The soft spot that Rosh dislikes is the one strength that helps Daniel overcome his stubborn hatred and thirst for vengeance. Over time, Daniel becomes disillusioned with Rosh’s ways. Rather than working towards a noble cause, Rosh uses Joel’s intelligence reports to aid in robbing the homes of fellow Jews that he deems as traitors. He believes every man is for himself and refuses to help his followers if they come across trouble. It is when Rosh dismisses Daniel’s plan to rescue Joel from the Romans that Daniel sees Rosh for who he really is—a calculating, selfish man. The villagers, too, lose faith in him when he continues trampling their fields and taking their sheep. 

Simon is Daniel’s fellow apprentice from before he left for the mountain. Also known as Simon the Zealot, he believes in the cause of Israel and desires to drive out the Romans. However, he doesn’t see eye to eye with Rosh and his violent, plundering ways. After listening to Jesus, he sets off to find out what Jesus means by saying that the kingdom has come. He moves to Bethsaida and hosts Jesus in his home, hoping to be asked to follow him. He believes Jesus is the hope of Israel and the Messiah. Simon has a strong, confident personality—he is sure Daniel will return when he goes to bring him from the mountain, and he offers Daniel to stay in his home and run his shop after Daniel’s grandmother dies. He believes that his duty is to protect his neighbors and provide them the services he offers, and he dislikes the outlaws’ abandonment of civil, domestic life. 

Samson is a black slave whom Rosh’s band takes from a traveling caravan. Naming him for his brute strength and formidable size, they do not know whether Samson is deaf and mute or if he chooses not to listen or understand. To Rosh’s frustration, he treats Daniel as his master after Daniel breaks him free of his chains. Samson follows Daniel like a shadow and protects him from harm. He is able to sense things before they happen, as he brings a feast for Rosh’s band the day that Daniel returns.

Samson also perceives that Daniel is about to attempt something he cannot handle and sacrifices himself for Daniel’s sake, without understanding what Israel is, the cause Daniel fights for, or even the might of Rome. Jesus describes this deed as a proof of unconditional love: “There is no greater love than that, that a man should lay down his life for his friend” (223). Though Daniel perceives Samson as a burden, he learns too late that Samson has always been his truest, most loyal friend. This realization mirrors Daniel’s understanding that love is not a burden but a great asset. When Daniel perceives Samson’s death as another debt to pay, Jesus suggests that love can only be repaid with love, not vengeance.