Chapter 1 Summary

The Bronze Bow is a story set in Galilee in biblical times during the Roman occupation of Israel. After witnessing the crucifixion of his father and subsequent demise of his mother, a young Jewish boy named Daniel vows revenge on the Romans. His hatred of them is overwhelming and governs his entire life. Daniel's initial attempts at war and love both fail, and he finally accepts the realization that he must choose one of them and give up the other.

The book is designed for young readers, generally fourth or fifth grade and up, but many adults have enjoyed it as well. The book won the John Newberry Award of American Literature for Children.

Daniel bar Jamin is an eighteen-year-old Galilean, who has run away from Ketzah, the village where he grew up. There he was a servant to a man who beat...