Bow

BOW. Every one knows what this is: It was a sort of Arms very well known among the Israelites, who had many very expert Archers in their Troops. When there is any mention in Scripture of bending the Bow, the verb tread under foot is generally made use of; because in effect it was their custom to put their feet upon their Bow that they might bend it with more ease. David thanks God for giving him the strength of a brazen Bow in his Arms. Posuisti ut arcum Ps. xvii. 35.æreum brachia mea. Their Bows were commonly of wood. When they would say that God will destroy the power of such or such a people, they make use of this expression; God will break their Bow. Confringam arcum Ælam, and Hosea conteram arcum Israel. A deceitful Bow, They are like a deceitful Hos. i. 5. Hos. vii. 16.bow, signifies one that is not well strung, which does not carry strait to the mark. King Uzziah provided good Arsenals, wherein he lodged abundance of Arms, among others a large quantity of 2 Chron. xxvi. 14.Bows and Slings. God is represented in Scripture with his Bow and Arrows, as Warriors and Conquerors are described Hab. iii. 9.with them. Thy bow was made quite naked according to the oaths of the tribes. Thou wilt awaken thy Bow, thou wilt bend it, and put it in a condition to be drawn, &c. The Children of Ephraim, who prided themselves in being such expert Archers, Ps. lxxviii. 9.fled in the day of battle. The Lord promises to deliver up the Nations, like stubble driven by the wind, to the bow of the righteous man, of Cyrus, of the Messiah. The Isaiah xli. 2.Persians, who in the Scripture are called Elamites, were the most expert Archers in the world.

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