Bible Dictionary
Battle-bow
A battle-bow was a powerful bow used in warfare. Prophetic passages also use it symbolically for military strength and announce its removal in the peace of the coming king.
Definition
A battle-bow was a war-bow used in fighting. Such bows required considerable strength to bend, and biblical language can describe one as being made ready or exposed for use.
Biblical Usage
The battle-bow is mentioned in warfare and in David’s command that the young men be taught the use, or song, of the bow. Zechariah presents its cutting off as part of the peace associated with Zion’s coming king.
Historical Background
The supplied material says that battle-bows could be made of tough wood, joined horns, or bronze. Their construction required great strength for bending.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The war-bow used in fighting (Zech. 9:10; 10:4). “Thy bow was made quite naked” (Hab. 3:9) means that it was made ready for use. By David’s order (2 Sam. 1:18) the young men were taught the use, or rather the song of the bow. (See ARMOUR, BOW.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bat'-'-l-bo: Found in the striking Messianic prophecy: "The battle bow shall be cut off" (Zec 9:10). The prophet is predicting the peace that shall prevail when Zion's king cometh, "just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass." The words convey their full significance only when read in the light of the context: "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace unto the nations" (compare Zec 10:4). The battle-bow was sometimes made of tough wood, sometimes of two straight horns joined together (Hom. II. iv.105-11), and sometimes of bronze. In Ps 18:34 the Revised Version (British and American) we find "bow of brass," but it probably should be of "bronze" (nechosheth), a metal very different from our brass, which is a mixture of copper and zinc. The point of the passage in this connection ("He teacheth my hands to war; so that mine arms do bend a bow of bronze"), as well as of that in 2Ki 9:24 ("And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength") is that it required great strength to bend the battle-bow.</p><p>See ARCHERY; ARMOR.</p><p>George B. Eager</p>