BOW

BOW The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Genesis 21=>20; 27=>3; 48=>22). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow (1 Chronicles 8=>40; 12=>2; 2 Chronicles 14=>8; 17=>17); so also were the Elamites (Isaiah 22=>6) and the Lydians (Jeremiah 46=>9). The Hebrew word commonly used for bow means properly to tread (1 Chronicles 5=>18; 8=>40), and hence it is concluded that the foot was employed in bending the bow. Bows of steel (correctly “copper”) are mentioned (2 Samuel 22=>35; Psalm 18=>34). The arrows were carried in a quiver (Genesis 27=>3; Isaiah 22=>6; 49=>2; Psalm 127=>5). They were apparently sometimes shot with some burning material attached to them (Psalm 120=>4). The bow is a symbol of victory (Psalm 7=>12). It denotes also falsehood, deceit (Psalm 64=>3, 4; Hos. 7=>16; Jeremiah 9=>3). “The use of the bow” in 2 Samuel 1=>18 (A.V.) ought to be “the song of the bow,” as in the Revised Version.