Archery, the art and practice of using a bow to shoot arrows, is a skill referenced multiple times throughout the Bible. It was a significant aspect of ancient warfare, hunting, and even sport. The bow and arrow are often symbolic of strength, skill, and divine judgment.

Biblical References and Context

1. Early Mentions and Symbolism: The first mention of archery in the Bible is associated with Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. Genesis 21:20 states, "God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer." This highlights the importance of archery as a survival skill in the wilderness.

2. Military Use: Archery was a crucial component of ancient military tactics. The tribe of Benjamin was renowned for its skilled archers. In 1 Chronicles 12:2, the Benjaminites are described as "armed with bows and able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed." This demonstrates the versatility and importance of archers in battle.

3. Divine Judgment and Protection: The bow is often used metaphorically to describe God's power and judgment. In Habakkuk 3:9, it is written, "You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers." Here, the bow symbolizes God's readiness to execute judgment. Conversely, in Psalm 91:5, the faithful are assured of protection: "You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day."

4. Symbol of Strength and Skill: Archery is also a metaphor for strength and skill. In 2 Samuel 1:18, David laments the death of Saul and Jonathan, instructing the people to learn the "Song of the Bow," underscoring the prowess and valor associated with archery.

5. Training and Preparation: The Bible also emphasizes the importance of training and preparation in archery. Psalm 144:1 states, "Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." This verse highlights the necessity of skill and readiness, which can be applied to both physical and spiritual battles.

Cultural and Historical Significance

In biblical times, archery was not only a practical skill but also a cultural symbol of power and protection. The bow and arrow were essential tools for hunting and warfare, and proficiency in archery was highly valued. The imagery of the bow in Scripture often conveys themes of divine intervention, judgment, and deliverance.

Conclusion

Archery in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing human skill, divine power, and the need for preparation and readiness. Its frequent mention underscores its importance in the daily life and spiritual metaphor of the biblical world.Archery

[ARMS, ARMOR]

1. (n.) The use of the bow and arrows in battle, hunting, etc.; the art, practice, or skill of shooting with a bow and arrows.

2. (n.) Archers, or bowmen, collectively.

ARCHERY

(1) The art of using the arcus, or bow and arrow for hunting and in battle is of great antiquity. It is mentioned in Genesis 21:20, as well as in the Iliad and the Odyssey, and depicted on Egyptian monuments and in Assyrian sculptures. The Philistines excelled in the art, which led David to order that special training in it be given to the Hebrews (2 Samuel 1:18). It was an important art throughout the world in Biblical times (see Genesis 27:3 Isaiah 22:6; Isaiah 49:2 Psalm 127:4). The Benjamites among the Hebrews were noted as archers (Judges 20), and archers constituted much of the fighting strength, and played no mean part in the victories, of the world-famed Greek and Roman armies.

(2) The bow was common to civil (Genesis 21:20) and military life (Zechariah 9:10), and vies with the spear in importance and antiquity. It was usually made of tough, elastic, seasoned wood, and often mounted with bronze (see Psalm 18:34 Revised Version (British and American); compare Job 20:24). But horn, too, was used for bows by the ancients, some with double curves being evidently modeled after the horns of oxen. The bow-string was commonly ox-gut and the arrows were of reed, or light wood tipped with flint, bronze, or iron.

(3) The battle bows, such as are mentioned in Zechariah 9:10; Zechariah 10:4, must have been of great size, since they required to be strung by pressing the foot on the lower end, while the upper end was bent down to receive the string into a notch; hence the expression "to tread (= string) the bow," and "bowtreaders," for archers (Jeremiah 50:14, 29 Hebrew). The arrows, "the sons of his quiver" (Lamentations 3:13 margin, the Revised Version (British and American) "shafts"), were ordinarily, of course, carried in the quiver, which was either placed on the back or slung on the left side, secured by a belt over the right shoulder (HDB). The day of gunpowder and firearms, of course, was not yet.

George B. Eager

Our Reception at Hwochow
... The competitor was required to exhibit great skill in archery, shooting at the target
from the back of a galloping horse, and to lift stones of immense weight ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter vi our reception at.htm

But I First Say a Word Also About the Crown Itself. ...
... itself. This laurel one is sacred to Apollo or Bacchus"to the former as
the god of archery, to the latter as the god of triumphs. ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter xii but i first.htm

Set at Liberty.
... Picnics and excursions would be arranged into the neighbouring country. Archery,
jousts, and other sports would beguile the slowly-moving hours. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xiv set at liberty.htm

The Life of Mr. Robert Blair.
... Nothing remarkable occurred till the 20th year of his age, when he gave himself
sometimes to the exercise of archery and the like recreations; but lest his ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr robert 6.htm

'The Hands of the Mighty God of Jacob'
... As a father in old days might have taken his little boy out to the butts, and put
a bow into his hand, and given him his first lesson in archery, directing his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the hands of the mighty.htm

Missions of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries
... fell in with a young man named Endrid, who agreed to become a Christian if any one
whom the king might appoint should beat him in diving, in archery, and in ...
/.../chapter vii missions of the.htm

Science and the Savages
... But to suggest that some such eccentric incident can never have happened in the
whole history of archery, or that it did not happen to any particular person of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xi science and the savages.htm

The Life of Mr. John Welch.
... many times to go too great a length with his neighbours in many dangerous practices;
and amongst the rest, he used to go to the bow-butts and archery, on the ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr john 5.htm

The Holy Spirit's Intercession
... to a great extent. Here is a youth who is to be initiated in the art of
archery, and therefore he carries a bow. It is a strong ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/the holy spirits intercession.htm

Joseph Attacked by the Archers
... In old times, when every boy had to be trained up to archery, if his father were
worth so many pounds a year, you might see the father putting his hands on his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/joseph attacked by the archers.htm

Archery
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ARCHERY. (1) The art of using the arcus, or
bow and arrow for hunting and in battle is of great antiquity. ...
/a/archery.htm - 9k

Bowman (5 Occurrences)
... This seems to have moved David to encourage archery practice in Judah (2 Samuel
1:18; compare Driver in the place cited.). ... See ARCHERY. George B. Eager. ...
/b/bowman.htm - 9k

Archers (15 Occurrences)

/a/archers.htm - 11k

Arches (13 Occurrences)

/a/arches.htm - 10k

Jonathan (109 Occurrences)
... accession to the throne (1 Samuel 13:2). Like his father, he was a man of great
strength and activity (2 Samuel 1:23), and excelled in archery and slinging (1 ...
/j/jonathan.htm - 59k

White (756 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) Specifically, the central part of the butt in archery, which was formerly
painted white; the center of a mark at which a missile is shot. 10. ...
/w/white.htm - 9k

Ituraea (1 Occurrence)
... They are often mentioned by Latin writers; their skill in archery seems greatly
to have impressed the Romans. They were skillful archers (Caesar, Bell. Afr. ...
/i/ituraea.htm - 10k

Expert (59 Occurrences)
... facility of operation or performance from practice; knowing and ready from much
practice; clever; skillful; as, an expert surgeon; expert in chess or archery. ...
/e/expert.htm - 25k

Bow (248 Occurrences)
... See ADORATION; ATTITUDES. BOW. bo. See ARCHERY. Multi-Version Concordance Bow (248
Occurrences). Matthew 2:2 saying, 'Where is he who was born king of the Jews? ...
/b/bow.htm - 42k

Battle-bow (2 Occurrences)
... bend the battle-bow. See ARCHERY; ARMOR. George B. Eager. Multi-Version
Concordance Battle-bow (2 Occurrences). Zechariah 9:10 And ...
/b/battle-bow.htm - 9k

What was the relationship between David and Jonathan? | GotQuestions.org

Archery: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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