Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, bowmen, or archers, played a significant role in warfare and hunting. The bow and arrow were essential tools for survival and defense, and their use is frequently mentioned throughout the Scriptures. The skill of archery was highly valued, and bowmen were often part of the military forces of ancient Israel and its neighboring nations.
Biblical ReferencesThe earliest mention of bowmen in the Bible is found in
Genesis 21:20, where Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, is described as growing up in the wilderness and becoming an archer: "God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer."
In the context of warfare, bowmen were crucial in battles. The tribe of Benjamin was particularly noted for its skilled archers. In
1 Chronicles 12:2, the Benjaminites who joined David at Ziklag are described as "armed with bows and able to shoot arrows or to sling stones with either hand."
The use of archers in battle is also depicted in
2 Chronicles 14:8, where King Asa of Judah had an army that included "300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow."
The prophetic literature also makes mention of bowmen. In
Jeremiah 50:29, the prophet calls for the archers to come against Babylon: "Summon the archers against Babylon, all who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape."
Symbolism and MetaphorThe bow and arrow are often used metaphorically in the Bible to describe God's judgment and power. In
Habakkuk 3:9, the prophet speaks of God's readiness to execute judgment: "You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah."
Similarly, in
Psalm 7:12-13, the imagery of God as an archer is used to convey His readiness to judge the wicked: "If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire."
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near East, the bow was a common weapon used by various civilizations, including the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. The design and construction of bows varied, with some being simple wooden bows and others being more complex composite bows made from a combination of wood, horn, and sinew.
The effectiveness of bowmen in battle depended on their skill and the quality of their equipment. Archers were often positioned strategically in battle formations to maximize their impact, and their ability to strike from a distance made them valuable assets in both offensive and defensive operations.
ConclusionBowmen were integral to the military and cultural life of ancient Israel and its neighbors. Their presence in the biblical narrative highlights the importance of archery as both a practical skill and a powerful metaphor for divine action.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Plural of Bowman.
Strong's Hebrew
7198. qesheth -- a bow... Word Origin perhaps from qush Definition a bow NASB Word Usage archers* (3), arrows
(1), bow (54), bowman* (1),
bowmen (1), bows (13), bowshot* (1), rainbow (1
...Library
The Dark was Lifting as Vergilius Entered the Field of Mars. ...
... "For a time, at least, Rome will be dear to him.". There were forty men riding
in the troop, all lancers, saving a few slingers andbowmen....
Antichrist in Jeremiah
... Fearful will be the devastations his fury shall accomplish: "The whole city shall
flee for the noise of the horsemen andbowmen; they shall go into thickets...
Oracles on the Scythians. (With Some Others: iv. 5-vi. 29. )
... From the noise of the horse and thebowmen, IV.29 All the land(217) is in flight,
They are into the caves, huddle in thickets,(218) Are up on the crags....
The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... The light infantry was composed chiefly ofbowmen"pidatu"the celebrated archers
of Egypt, whose long bows and arrows, used with deadly skill, speedily...
Songs of Deliverance
... But I should not wonder if since that first race of archers called sins has died
out, some of you have been much molested by another tribe ofbowmen, who a...
David the Shepherd Youth.
... Then with loud shouts the men of Israel rushed across the vale of oaks, shooting
their arrows as they ran, for they were goodbowmen....
The Poet.
... From the noise of the horse and thebowmen All the land is in flight, They are into
the caves, huddle in thickets, And are up on the crags.(59) Every town of...
The Holy Spirit's Intercession
... boy. Suppose it to be a time of war centuries back. Old English warfare
was then conducted bybowmen to a great extent. Here is...
The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... But now a handful of hoplites from one of the towns of the continent, and that not
the most renowned for its prowess, without cavalry orbowmen, had rushed...
The Second vision "On Earth"
... The whole city fleeth from the noise of the horsemen andbowmen; They go into the
thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: Every city is forsaken, And not a man...
Thesaurus
Bowmen (13 Occurrences)...Bowmen (13 Occurrences).
... 1 Chronicles 8:40 And the sons of Ulam were men of war,
bowmen, and had a great number of sons and sons' sons, a hundred and fifty.
...Bowman (5 Occurrences)
... the use of the bow. The battle of Gilboa was clearly lost through the superior
skill of the Philistinebowmen. This seems to have...
Arrows (59 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 35:23 And thebowmen sent their arrows at King Josiah, and the king
said to his servants, Take me away, for I am badly wounded. (BBE)....
Assyria (124 Occurrences)
... the Old Testament. The army consisted of cavalry, infantry,bowmen and
slingers, as well as of a corps of charioteers. After the...
Warriors (75 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). 1 Chronicles 8:40 And the sons of Ulam were men of war,bowmen, and
had a great number of sons and sons' sons, a hundred and fifty....
Uplifted (26 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 50:29 Send for the archers to come together against Babylon, all thebowmen;
put up your tents against her on every side; let no one get away: give...
Woodland (13 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 4:29 All the land is in flight because of the noise of the horsemen and
thebowmen; they have taken cover in the woodland and up on the rocks: every...
Fowler (3 Occurrences)
... were confined in hidden cages so that their voices would call others of their kind
to the spot and they could be killed by arrows of concealedbowmen or the...
Tirhakah (2 Occurrences)
... In Sennacherib's inscriptions, however, the battle with "the king(s) of Mucuru
(Egypt) and thebowmen, chariots, and cavalry of Meruhha" (Meroe or Ethiopia...
Roads (34 Occurrences)
... Don't you know their evidences, (See RSV). Job 30:13 They have made waste my roads,
with a view to my destruction; hisbowmen come round about me; (BBE)....
Resources
What does the Bible say about being left-handed? | GotQuestions.orgBowmen: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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