bronze bow notes – Flashcards

Summary Daniel bar Jamin is scanning the mountainside above the town of Galilee in Israel. He is waiting to catch another glimpse of two figures he had previously spied. Daniel sees that the pair must be brother and sister. He hears the girl's voice clearly, and the sound jars his memory. He recognizes the teenaged boy as Joel bar Hezron, the rabbi's son, and that the girl must be his twin sister, Malthace. It has been five years since Daniel has seen anyone from his hometown. Daniel is hiding because he escaped a life of slavery. Discovery might return him to servitude, but he greets the pair anyway, longing for contact with his past life. Joel returns Daniel's greeting. He recognizes Daniel as the runaway slave but tells him that no one would blame him for escaping his owner, Amalek. Daniel asks for news of his family. Thacia knows only that Daniel's sister, Leah, never comes out of the house. Daniel describes his escape and life in the hills and how the zealot Rosh found him. Daniel thinks he has found a place and a purpose: fighting the Roman occupation of Israel and freeing the Jews.

Daniel orders Malthace and Joel to wait. Daniel explains to Ebol that he knows them from Galilee and that they had wandered into Rosh's territory inadvertently. The sentry orders Daniel to get rid of them because Daniel is needed to help free a slave from a Roman contingency. Rosh thinks the brute strength of the slave will be useful. Joel begs to meet Rosh. Daniel refuses, but it is too late. The caravan is approaching. Joel recognizes the danger his sister would face if the Romans discover them. He listens to Daniel in regard to Thacia but refuses to hide himself

Daniel and Samson continue to work together, Samson relying totally on his appointed caretaker. However, Samson proves to be reliable and obedient. His eager servitude makes Daniel wonder if the man really knows he is free. Daniel cannot discover the least bit of information about his enormous companion. The other rebels in the camp make fun of Samson, but Daniel thinks they might be teasing him as well. He feels rejected and isolated. One day, Rosh barks that Daniel has a visitor. Ebol brings in Simon the Zealot. Daniel is surprised to see him but grateful that his message has

Simon arrives at Daniel's doorstep on the morning of the Sabbath. Leah, terrified by the unexpected stranger, hides. In deference to her fear, Daniel steps outside to speak to Simon alone. Simon invites Daniel to go to the synagogue with him. Daniel sees no point in going; he has not been in five years, but Simon insists. He wants Daniel to meet someone. Daniel is swayed by the fact that Simon is breaking Sabbath law by carrying a bundle on the holy day, work that is traditionally forbidden. If seeing this man at the synagogue is

It is the month of Nisan, the "time of the first harvest." Daniel is feeling restless, tied down to blacksmithing and longing for the action Rosh promises. Rosh agrees to let Daniel try to locate Joel, for Joel "might be useful." Rosh sends Daniel on the rather lengthy journey with no money, no food, and only scant advice. Daniel encounters crowds of people waiting to see "the teacher." He catches a glimpse of Jesus on the shore, speaking to the fishermen and eager throngs. He looks just as he had the first time Daniel saw him. Jesus speaks in parables

Forbidden to ever return to the Hezron home, Daniel forlornly heads back up the mountain. He does not look forward to telling Rosh that he has failed to enlist Joel's help in the cause. Two Roman soldiers come up behind Daniel, and they demand that he provide a drink of water for their horses. Daniel reacts without thinking. He throws water in one soldier's face. The payback is immediate: Daniel is dealt a crushing blow to the ribs. The injury is bad, but Daniel manages to escape. He runs away, but the pain is overwhelming. He decides that his only chance for help is to go back to Joel's home. Malthace answers the door, but unaware of his injury

Joel is reading aloud to Daniel and Malthace. The verses from the Book of Enoch promise freedom and vengeance. But Daniel is tired of waiting for freedom to come to Galilee. Joel too is tired of waiting. He wonders if Rosh might be the one who will deliver the Jews from Roman oppression. Daniel is sure, but Malthace is not. She insists that God would not choose an "outlaw" to free the Jews. Daniel then tells them the gruesome details of his childhood trauma: the Romans killed both his father and his mother. When Daniel was eight, his uncle and aunt were expecting the birth of their first child. His uncle decided to buy his wife a new shawl with money he had

Daniel is less physically strong than he had imagined. Nevertheless, he makes his way back to the cave, where Samson cares for him. Having now experienced real friendship with Joel and Malthace, Daniel waits anxiously for the next opportunity he will have to visit them again. A mishap with Rosh's knife gives Daniel reason to return. Rosh wants him to impose on Simon to repair the damaged instrument. Rosh argues that Simon ought to be glad to donate the materials to the cause. Daniel finds that Simon has left his shop, having gone to follow Jesus. Daniel decides to go after him and leaves the symbol of the bow for Joel to find. Once together, the two boys try to locate Simon

Rosh assigns Daniel his first "job" alone. It is a test for Daniel to prove his usefulness to the rebel leader. Daniel is to attack an old Jewish traveler who is known to carry gold with him. Although Daniel tries to comfort himself with the moral relativism taught by Rosh, the reality of the deed is unpleasant. The man is elderly but puts up an unexpectedly strong resistance. Daniel is forced to strike him to make the man turn loose his grip on the bag full of money. The old man lies in a heap, wounded and looking helpless and forlorn in the road. Moved by pity, Daniel drags the old man out of the road and into the comforting shadow of a rock. He also returns one of the man's two weapons so

Daniel receives word from Ebol that his grandmother is close to death. Although time is of the essence, Daniel waits for half a day before he heads down the mountain and back to his old home. When he arrives, two women inform Daniel that his grandmother and sister have been locked in the house for ten days. They will not enter or offer any help other than tossing bread through the window because they say they fear the demons that possess Leah. Daniel reluctantly forces his way into the hovel when Leah fails to respond. When he does enter, Leah shrinks away from him in fear. Daniel sees that his grandmother has not yet died. She is very weak but pleased that he has come. Daniel does what he

Daniel leads his grandmother's funeral procession. It is a meager affair. After the burial, Daniel runs into Simon, who has a proposition. Simon is intent on following Jesus around the countryside, but his shop will be idle; he asks Daniel to take it over. Daniel is moved by Simon's generosity, but he feels that accepting Simon's offer will be one more responsibility tying him down. Daniel also continues to miss the freedom and excitement of life with Rosh. Daniel also protests that no one will be available to care for Leah

Chapter 12 finds Daniel and Joel adding new recruits to the cause. One of them is Nathan, a boy about the same age as Joel and Daniel. Daniel cannot help but notice the boy has suffered a recent beating. Nathan explains that a gang of Jewish boys beat him up because his father has had to become a tax collector for the Romans. Most of the community feels that taking such a job is beneath contempt, but Nathan says that his father had little choice

Daniel finds that he has to be away from home more frequently due to the relocated meetings in the watchtower. He worries about Leah during his absences but is pleased to see that she is unexpectedly growing stronger. She does not tire as easily and is working at her loom more often. She seems to accept the time that he has to spend away from home. Daniel gives to her the silver talent that had been given to him in payment for her work. Leah is quite pleased, and Daniel realizes his sister has never had any money of her own. She begins to care about her appearance more. Joel and Malthace pay a visit to the shop and tell Daniel about Joel's increasing visits to hear Jesus

Chapter 14 finds Leah much interested in weddings. She has heard about Nathan's nuptials and has many questions for her brother. He humors her with answers but reacts angrily when Leah wants to know what will happen to her if he ever marries. Daniel says that he will never marry: his oath is more important than having a wife. Tentatively, Leah asks Daniel about the Roman soldier who frequently comes to the shop. Daniel is enflamed at the suggestion that any Roman might be his "master." Leah tries to get Daniel to see that the young man is not much different from him, a suggestion Daniel finds despicable. Daniel rails against Leah's claim that he is being too harsh

Daniel has decided that he must learn more about Jesus. He finds himself compelled to return again and again. He worries about the shop, but Simon urges him to hear the teacher. Daniel tells Leah all that he has heard. She is as hungry for the lessons and as eager to hear Jesus' stories as her brother is. Daniel is often hopeful when he is near Jesus, but it is hard to hold hope in his heart when he returns home. Leah, though, wants to hear the stories no matter what mood

Daniel, Joel, and Thacia meet in the secret passageway of the Hezron house to discuss Rosh's latest plan. Rosh wants the names of the rich people who are scheduled to be away from home attending a banquet; while they are out of their homes, he intends to rob them. Joel is eager to take the action Rosh demands, and the two boys discuss how Joel will go about the task. Thacia suggests that her brother get fish and "peddle them." The slaves would buy the fish and in their excitement about the party

Rosh has carried out his plan. The village is abuzz with gossip about the robberies, and all suspect Rosh. Daniel wants to know how everyone is so sure. He discovers that Rosh's reputation has suffered serious decline. Most of the villagers now believe that Rosh is just a bandit and his men a self-serving "pack of thieves." One of the villagers points out that none of the poor has received a single penny of Rosh's fortune. Daniel is growing more disillusioned as well, for he had not anticipated that Rosh's plan would result in "wholesale looting." He was expecting action more worthy of the cause

Out of breath and frantic, Malthace arrives at Daniel's shop with the news that Joel has been taken. Centurions had arrested him the previous day. Malthace fears that he will be sent to the galleys, where he could not possibly survive. Daniel is numb but tries to reassure her that Rosh will know what to do. Daniel asks Thacia to take care of Leah while he goes up the mountain to ask for the rebel leader's help. Rosh, however, shows no concern for Joel at all. Daniel cannot believe his ears. He urges Rosh to help plan an attack to retrieve Joel, but Rosh refuses, saying, "It's not my affair." Daniel is livid. He blows up at Rosh, but to no avail. Rosh turns ugly

Daniel leads his group into position in order to save Joel from the Romans. Daniel does not believe that he will survive the ordeal, but he means to see that Joel does. Daniel knows that all the boys are prepared to sacrifice themselves, but Daniel, as their leader, resolves that this will not occur. Still, he worries about walking into a trap. Finally, Joel comes into view. Driving him forward is a guard with a whip. Daniel waits for the right moment and then gives the signal. They all hurl rocks at the Romans below, but Joel cannot find a way to escape. Suddenly, an enormous rock tumbles down the hillside. Samson, who had been faithfully trailing Daniel

The gatherings at the watchtower have ceased. The boys vow to begin again, but they will no longer serve Rosh. As Daniel immerses himself in his lonely work, Jesus' admonition echoes in his head: "They who live by the sword die by the sword." Joel surprises Daniel with the admission that he has told his father everything. Daniel fears that the rabbi must hate him, but Joel assures his friend that his father not only does not hate him but will welcome Daniel into his home at any time. Joel feels that he must join Rosh immediately because his father is sending him away to a distant school. This will mean that Joel can no longer fight for freedom

Daniel has gone to find Jesus. Daniel tells Simon of Joel's warning, but Jesus is aware of the perils he faces. Daniel is annoyed because now that he has found Jesus, Simon will not let him talk to the teacher. Simon tells his young friend that Jesus has been harassed by the priests for three solid days. Daniel asks why Jesus stays; Simon says that the people need him. Daniel cannot bear to leave. He creeps toward the foot of the staircase. Jesus detects his presence and softly calls for Daniel to join him. Daniel hurriedly delivers his warning, but Jesus is less concerned about that than he is about Daniel. Gently, he prods the boy to tell him his worries. Daniel spills everything

It is the Day of Atonement. Work has stopped for either worship or merriment. Daniel knows that Thacia will be among the women dancing in the village celebrations. He asks Leah to join him; she refuses but asks that her brother return with news of the festivities. Daniel sees Thacia dancing. He is shaken by her grace and beauty. Daniel worries that his presence will embarrass her, so he runs away. Thacia follows him. She asks if he still considers her "just a pretty child." Daniel confesses that he has seen her as a woman since the day he awoke in the passage, when she tended his wounds. Thacia does not try to hide her love, but Daniel is embarrassed again

Leah completely withdraws from life. Daniel, "in a torment of remorse," tries to do everything around the house. Leah refuses to eat much. Daniel pleads with her, but she is far-gone, her eyes "like empty windows." Just when things seem most dark, Daniel recalls all the people Jesus has healed, all the demons Jesus has cast out. Daniel remembers how Jesus had relieved the burden of his guilt about Samson and Nathan. He decides that he will beg him to heal Leah. But when he finds Jesus, Daniel has his faith tested again. Simon tells him he unequivocally believes Jesus to be the Messiah, but that Jesus would never lead an army against Rome. If Jesus refuses to act

Still longing for action, Daniel thinks about forming a new insurgent resistance. However, he begins to reflect on what his hatred has actually done for him. Tangibly, it has gotten Samson and Nathan killed and it has taken Leah away from him. Daniel feels "imprisoned in a pit, raging and helpless." Convinced that Leah is near death, Daniel thinks that Thacia would want to know. He scratches out a message and hopes Thacia will come, but three days pass with no sign of her. He sees Marcus, the soldier whom Leah has fallen in love with. He wants to kill him but decides he could not do so while Leah lies dying.