avid or his son Solomon used composite bows, enabling the penned Psalm 127. In either archers to cast farther and case, the writer chose the faster at enemy foot soldiers. The imagery of arrows and book of Job is dated to around the quiversD to talk about children. As we same time period. Job 20:24 uses examine the history and designs of the phrase “bow of steel,” alter- , let’s consider the ways that the nately translated “bronze ” or imagery in verse 4 applies to parenting. “bronze-tipped arrow.” That phrase can mean the bow proved powerful or Archery’s Earliest Impact: 2000 BC the arrow was tted with a metal tip. More than a thousand years Either interpretation shows archery before David and Solomon, archery had reached a turning point in effec- was well known. Ancient world lit- tiveness and use. erature and Biblical writings support an early date for effective archery. The Bow Revolutionized: The Epic of Gilgamesh, considered 1600 BC–1100 BC the oldest work of literature, implies For approximately three hundred the use of archery in and years during this period, Egypt stood warfare during the Sumerian Empire. at the pinnacle of its empire. Growing The Bible’s rst mention of archery up in the house of , Moses occurs in Genesis 21:20, where would have been well acquainted with Ishmael, one of Abraham’s sons, Egypt’s history, campaigns, embraced an archer’s life. Some Bible and weapons. Moses led the Israelites scholars translate “archer” in that from Egypt, and it can be inferred verse as “an expert with a bow.” that the Israelites took the knowledge about Egyptian archery with them. The Bow Revitalized: When the Egyptian and Hittite 1700 BC–1600 BC armies clashed at Kadesh, the subse- More than six hundred years quent battle was perhaps the largest before David and Solomon, the bow’s military con ict the ancient world had construction changed. As ever seen. Stone reliefs of that battle were introduced into Egypt, archers depict archers in full draw, standing

Epic of Gilgamesh Chariots Archers use Egypt stands Israelites written (some sources place replace composite bows at its pinnacle leave Egypt its writing even earlier) heavy in battle of power wagons in Abraham lives warfare The book of Job written

* All dates are approximate 2000 BC 1700 BC 1650 BC 1650–1200 BC 1450 BC in chariots. Although the Hittite level of his personal life. When David Empire fell during the latter part of sought to know Saul’s intentions to this era, a Hittite cylinder seal shows harm him, Saul’s son Jonathan used a Hittite hunter using what appears his archery practice as a secret sig- to be a . Because of its nal to David (1 Samuel 20:20–22). curved design, this revolutionary bow Philistine archers seriously wounded allowed arrows to achieve greater King Saul at the Battle of Gilboa (1 speed and distance. It is possible, Samuel 31:1–4), and David lamented then, that as their empire collapsed the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan and they scattered into neighboring from that battle, extolling Jonathan’s lands, the Hittites brought with them bravery through poetic language their ghting skills and recurve bows. about the bow (2 Samuel 1:17–27). But verse 18 appears ambiguous. Archery during the Lifetimes of One interpretation states that David David and Solomon: 1000 BC–900 BC ordered the people to learn archery, First Chronicles 11:41 lists a Hit- but that verse may imply that David tite named Uriah among David’s ordered the people to learn the “Song “mighty men.” Known as expert of the Bow,” memorializing Saul and archers and slingers, David’s warriors Jonathan. In another song, David shot arrows or slung stones with referenced the bow while attribut- either hand (12:2). Since Uriah was a ing his success in war and archery to Hittite, he might have used a recurve God (Psalm 18:34). These Biblical bow in battle. After David commit- accounts and references indicate that ted adultery with Uriah’s wife, David David was keenly aware of archery’s ordered one of his military com- powerful imagery. manders to allow Uriah to die in bat- Solomon, too, would have under- tle (2 Samuel 11:14, 15). Ironically, it stood the important use of archery. was probably the arrow of an enemy Solomon succeeded his father, David, archer that took Uriah’s life during as king. It can be inferred that Solo- the battle (2 Samuel 11:17–21). mon would have been familiar with his But even before David became father’s military campaigns, weapons, king, archery had permeated every war strategies, and writings.

Israelites Egyptian Hittite Hittite David Solomon leave Egypt and Hittite cylinder Empire lives reigns empires clash seal shows falls at the Battle of a recurve Kadesh bow

1450 BC 1274 BC 1200–800 BC 1160 BC 1000 BC 975 BC While Solomon’s reign was peaceful, parenting: parents must dedicate them- he tremendously enlarged the Israelite selves to raising their child. army, numbering his chariots to 1,400 Like a handmade arrow, each child (1 Kings 10:26). Archers could have is unique, made in God’s image. An used many of those chariots. arrow  exes as it leaves the bow, but its durable shaft and sharp point pierce Archery as Imagery for Parenting the target. Similarly, a child who pos- With the history of archery in sesses spiritual maturity and practical mind, let’s explore the comparison of living skills is better able to be  exible archery to parenting. in life while remaining true to God’s Ancient archers had to be physi- Word, making his or her mark for cally t. Similarly, parents must keep God’s glory. A child who leaves home themselves spiritually healthy. An well prepared and energized with the archer knew his target and kept his truth of Scripture as well as the love of eyes on it. Similarly, parents must and training by parents and others will help a child identify spiritual and likely remain on track, not easily in u- life goals, keeping focus on the eter- enced by the winds of temptations, dis- nal and the important. Whether on appointments, and dif culties of life. horseback, foot, or , an archer But what if parents believe they took his stance, providing stability didn’t do everything right in raising a as he aimed and released an arrow. child, or what if after they’ve raised Likewise, parents rst need stability in a child, that child seemingly veers off their own lives so their child can  our- course? Let Proverbs 22:6 penetrate ish in a stable home. the heart: “Train up a child in the way But the analogy doesn’t end there. he should go: and when he is old, he With an arrow held to the , will not depart from it.” an archer pulled the bow to full draw, storing energy in the bow. Just as the Whether David or Solomon wrote bow stored the power to release an Psalm 127, either king would have been arrow, so does a child’s training and keenly aware of the power of the bow upbringing. Spiritual truths, formal and the effectiveness of an arrow in the education, vocational or career train- hands of a warrior. David and Solo- ing, problem-solving skills, relational mon would have understood an archer’s skills, life lessons, experiences, love, training, his equipment, and techniques. physical care, etc. become the “energy” Psalm 127:4 is best understood in that stored in a child. Like archery, parent- context, serving as an encouraging ing requires strength. An archer used application for parenting today. his whole body to launch an arrow— his upper body for strength and his Ann Ewing and her husband enjoy lower body for stability. So it is with recreational archery. HORIZONS • Fall Quarter 2015 • Vol. 15, No. 1 • Published quarterly in weekly parts by Regular Baptist Press • 3715 North Ventura Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 • Deb Lew, Editor • © 2015 Regular Baptist Press • Printed in U.S.A. All rights reserved.