Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis
Simon arrives at Daniel’s doorstep on the morning of the Sabbath. Leah, terrified by the unexpected stranger, hides. In deference to her fear, Daniel steps outside to speak to Simon alone.
Simon invites Daniel to go to the synagogue with him. Daniel sees no point in going; he has not been in five years, but Simon insists. He wants Daniel to meet someone. Daniel is swayed by the fact that Simon is breaking Sabbath law by carrying a bundle on the holy day, work that is traditionally forbidden. If seeing this man at the synagogue is important enough to cause Simon to break his adherence to Jewish law, then Daniel reasons that he, too, should go.
The pair travel to the synagogue where it is rumored that Jesus will appear. Daniel tries to find out more about this man; he asks if Jesus’s hometown of Nazareth is proud to boast of such a powerful preacher. Simon tells him that this is far from the case; in fact, the leaders of Nazareth have accused Jesus of blasphemy and have tried to kill him. This information puzzles Daniel, and he is even more confused once he actually sees Jesus. He looks nothing like the important religious figures that Daniel knows. Jesus has the hard-working physique of a laborer; he is dressed plainly and in pure white.
As Simon tells him more about Jesus and how the man escaped the clutches of his foes, Daniel again becomes confused. The passive resistance of Jesus does not fit Daniel’s expectations of a rebel leader. Still, Daniel is moved by the quiet power of Jesus’s voice, a sound that “carried to every corner of the room.”
Daniel returns to the village and encounters some of the loathsome Roman soldiers. He prepares to hurl a rock and shouts, “Infidels!” Before Daniel can act, however, two men seize him and subdue him until the soldiers have passed. They accuse Daniel and his fellow zealots of stirring up trouble.
Analysis
In chapter 4, Daniel continues his emotional growth. For the first time, he has to grapple with considering a new kind of resistance to the Roman occupation. Jesus is an enigma. He is quiet and considerate, whereas other leaders, like Rosh, rule by intimidation. Jesus does not display the wealth of kings, but power radiates from him with the glow of true authority. Although Jesus is intriguing, Daniel’s time with Rosh and his expectations of a spectacular Roman defeat color his feelings.
When Daniel tries to hurl a rock at one of the Roman soldiers, his impulsive action proves that he still needs to mature. Daniel acts from a place of pure hatred. He does not consider that his act of revenge could possibly endanger others in the town. Even when he is told what may result from his attack, Daniel cannot admit that he was in the wrong.
In addition to the contrasts between the tenets of Rosh and Jesus, another element to be aware of is the continued depiction of the roles of Jewish women. Women like his grandmother and Leah will forego their own needs in favor of those of men. Leah and his grandmother, for example, both sacrifice their meager portions of food so that Daniel may eat. This is not just a kind gesture but an expected one. Remember that Malthace, already established as a nontraditional woman, does not surrender her portion of food when it comes time to divide it between herself, Daniel, and Joel.
Expert Q&A
Why does Daniel leave his family in chapter 4 of The Bronze Bow?
Daniel leaves his grandmother and sister in chapter 4 to go and hear Jesus speak in the synagogue. Daniel hasn't been to the synagogue for five years, but he's persuaded by Simon that it might be a good idea to go and listen to Jesus. After all, he could be a Zealot like Daniel.
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