The Bronze Bow

Daniel learns through the villagers that Rosh robbed five of the wealthiest houses in Capernaum. Though Daniel is happy at first, he feels let down by the end of the day. He and the boys expected something more noble and worthy of the cause from Joel’s enterprise than a looting. He wonders if Joel thinks the danger and the loss of hours from study was worth it. At their meeting that night, Joel shares that he not only furnished all the information for the raid, but even returned in the morning to the robbed houses to hear the full story from unsuspecting servants. Joel wants to continue using his disguise to obtain information. Daniel’s boys question what Rosh will do with the money until Daniel tells them to leave it to Rosh. Though the boys are loyal, Daniel is not satisfied with his own answer. Rosh’s name is the talk of the town as the villagers debate on whether Rosh is a defender of the Jews or has turned against them.

Joel throws himself into the role of a fish peddler, becoming experienced in interpreting pieces of gossip. Rosh utilizes Joel’s intelligence reports to strike far and wide. The boys feel no pity for the victims—any traitor is fair prey. Rosh’s boldness forces caravans and travelers to increase their protection. When some of the mountain outlaws fall into Roman hands, Daniel’s boys are admitted into Rosh’s active service. Daniel watches their childish exploits with dismay—he dreamed of raising a band to plan, train, and grow strong for a more noble purpose. However, he is proud when his boys find a catapult on the side of the road. They decide to take it apart at night, breaking and carrying away its planks and crossbeams. By the next morning, the catapult is gone without a trace.

Wild with success, the boys swagger through the village. Daniel warns them that they can’t strike now. Joel sends warnings from the city that the Romans are strengthening their forces. A new detachment of soldiers has joined the garrison at Capernaum, and the patrol on the roads has doubled. When Rosh’s band snares three more of the town’s sheep, the villagers request Daniel to get a message to Rosh—he is to leave their sheep alone. Daniel quietly asks if they begrudge a sheep now and then to a man who would give his life for their freedom.

The men, however, have a different perspective: “He’s free up there. Free from the taxes that bleed us dry. Free to play with the Romans while we stand and take the punishment” (194). When a farmer finds his crop plundered and ruined, Daniel takes the warning to Rosh. Rosh laughs in his face, telling Daniel that their only purpose is to raise food for men who fight. When Daniel tells Rosh that the villagers will appeal to the centurion for protection, Rosh says to let them get a taste of the mountain. Daniel realizes that they must hurry—the whole village is turning against Rosh, and they might never follow him. 

One afternoon, Daniel sees a disguised Malthace running to his shop. The Roman legionaries suspected the centurion’s kitchen slaves and took Joel when he came to the door. Joel is sentenced to live in the galleys. Daniel reassures Malthace that Rosh will know what to do. As Leah watches from behind her loom, Daniel wonders how much she understands. He tells Leah to take care of Malthace as he goes up the mountain.

When Daniel reaches the cave, Rosh is disinterested. He grunts that Joel was getting too confident. Daniel tells Rosh that the soldiers won’t be looking for an attack and that they can surprise them on the road if they move fast. Rosh responds that it is not his affair—every man on the mountain is responsible for himself. Enraged, Daniel exclaims that Joel was only following orders and that eight of them took Samson. Rosh reasons that they took Samson from scurvy traders and that the might of Rome is another matter. He can’t spare eight men for someone stupid enough to get caught.

Daniel is taken aback that Rosh would use Joel and let him go without even trying. Rosh reminds Daniel of his soft streak and that he can be of no good to the cause until he is rid of it. Suddenly, the anger clears from Daniel’s mind, and he sees Rosh differently. He asks if Rosh even knows what the cause means. Before Rosh can rebuke him, Daniel announces that he is not one of Rosh’s men any longer. He knows he is done with the mountain forever and leaves. When Joktan joins him, Daniel is disappointed that he has not gotten the chance to say a final goodbye to Samson. Daniel has the uncanny feeling that someone is following them.

When Daniel’s boys meet up, they are angry that Rosh will do nothing. Daniel feels that they trusted him and he failed them all. The boys say they can do without Rosh—unlike his selfish philosophy, they stand for each other. Daniel has a plan to get Joel back: They will spread out on the cliffs surrounding the path and throw rocks. The Romans won’t expect an attack, and they can take Joel once they stir up confusion. When Daniel says that they need a leader, the boys proudly proclaim that they have already chosen him. Daniel asks for a vote, but no one challenges him. Daniel tells the boys to take all the weapons they have and reminds them of the scriptures Joel always read to them. The same God who strengthened Judas, Jonathan, and Simon will strengthen them, too.