Israli/Hebrew/Jewish bows???

[criveraville]

If this belongs in Around the Campfire please move, but I have a question about bows.  There are many many references to bows in the bible, yet when I search for Israli/Hebrew/Jewish bows I can not seem to find any specific examples that are linked to the people of the Old Testament.  Would they have been Eygptian, Mesapotanian or Parthian?

Thanks,
Cipriano

[PEARL DRUMS]

My guess would be they were more symbolic than an actual tool and maybe they didnt even use or have any archery items. They just used archery terms to describe certain things or meanings.

[JackCrafty]

Hebrew bows would be the same type(s) used by powerful neighbors or oppressors.  This would mean Eqyptian, Assyrian, Greek, and Roman designs, depending on the time period.

[hillbilly61]

 Not sure if these help. I used the Google search of hebrew bows and arrows and also middle east bows and arrows. Most of the Egyptin bows were imported from the middle east
http://www.articlesbase.com/extreme-sports-articles/history-of-the-bow-and-arrow-403289.html#axzz1PTMT19hD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_archery

[mullet]

I would think Egyptian or Assyrian. I don't think one could be used for symbolism if there wasn't one being used somewhere.

[k-hat]

Sorry Pearl, but if you remember, Jonathan gave David his bow when they became friends.  Guess we're just continuing the tradition here    

He also used it to signal to David whether he needed to hot-tail it from Saul or not.  As much as the Israelites borrowed from neighbors, there were pretty strong prohibitions against using weaponry of other nations, though that was mainly chariots and such war machines.  That's an interesting thought though, got me wondrin . . .

[Buckeye Guy]

Or more likely the rest of us (the neighbors ) borrowed designs from them !!

[criveraville]

Thanks guys.  I just thought that the Isralites would have developed their own style, type of archery equipment.  Even when you borrow from neighbors and oppressors a unique style develops, but I havent found much info or literature on the subject matter other than being attributed to the neighboring people..

[criveraville]

Here is a link about Sibudu Cave in South Africa that puts archery use back to between 64,000 -70,000 years...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibudu_Cave

[wildwills]

If you're by chance looking for a for this type of bow, I believe Rudderbows has some...https://rudderbowsarchery.com/shopping/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22&products_id=555&zenid=gjtud3prmosg2e1a8t8onjhgm0.

[aero86]

thats what my bows with siyahs usually look like. 

[CraigMBeckett]

Here is a link about Sibudu Cave in South Africa that puts archery use back to between 64,000 -70,000 years...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibudu_Cave

There is a lot of controversy about the archery claims, the bone point could be a dart or javalin point so nothing is conclusive or any different to the small stone points found throughout Europe that also cannot be conclusively claimed to prove anything either way.

Craig.

[criveraville]

Thanks  guys. That chariot/horse bow looks neat.

Craig, thanks for the info. But regarding Sibudu cave artifacts I read that stone points had been found that had been basted to an arrow and had blood/bone material on them. Have you read that? I did not realize there was a controversy over the claims made at the cave site.

[CraigMBeckett]

Thanks  guys. That chariot/horse bow looks neat.

Craig, thanks for the info. But regarding Sibudu cave artifacts I read that stone points had been found that had been basted to an arrow and had blood/bone material on them. Have you read that? I did not realize there was a controversy over the claims made at the cave site.

I have read various descriptions of the finds from one that claims they found a bone arrow shaft to others that describe it as a bone point. It is only 5cm (2inches) long and so what makes it an arrow I have no idea especially when photos show it to be a just a point. WRT the blood,  read/look at this :

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11086110

you will see that it was stone points on which they discovered blood. Now what makes those points definitely arrow points where similar points found in Europe are not, is beyond me. I would also suggest that the shape of the so called points is very similar to small scraper blades used throughout the world.

So as you can gather there is a considerable controversy as to the veracity of the claims.

Points alone or points on incomplete shafts, (which there is no evidence of in the Sibudu cave), would not prove the use of bows and arrows as the same point and shaft could be from throwing darts. It would be necessary to find them in conjunction with bows or identifiable bits of bows to make the assumption of the type of missile.


On your original question I have not read of the discovery of any bow that could be ascribed to the Hebrew Nation, and like others I would assume they used bows similar in design to others used in the Middle east contemporary to their migration. But that is only an assumption.

Craig.

[mstrick96]

Strictly speculation on my part, but I would think that since the Hebrews grew from a family/tribal group to a nation in Egypt, it would be logical to assume that their bow designs would be based on the Egyptian styles.

After the Exodus and the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they would have have time to perfect their own designs before moving in to the Promised Land.  Likely they had some influence from surrounding peoples, but I would think that the primary design would be Egyptian.