Hezron, Joel's father, is a Rabbi, or teacher of the Jewish Law. He is also a Pharisee, a member of a strict sect of Jewish leaders whom Jesus said valued outward observance of the law over inward qualities such as mercy, justice, and faith. When Daniel visits Joel at his home, he stays for their meal and engages in an uncomfortable conversation with Hezron.

The man actually knew of Daniel's father and his fate at the hands of the Romans. Instead of showing sympathy, he states coolly, "He was a good man, your father, but a rash one." The conversation turns to the one topic that is always uppermost in Daniel's mind: the Roman occupation of Israel. Hezron states that he is grieved about the captivity of the Jews just as Daniel is. However, he views the Roman presence as a punishment from God on the Jewish nation and believes that they must bear it patiently. He compares the ineffectiveness of the Zealots to "buzzing mosquitoes."

He then tells Daniel what he thinks is more powerful than Rome, namely, "the Law, given to Moses and our fathers." Long past the day when the Romans have "vanished from the earth," he says, the Law will remain. This is small consolation to Daniel since it envisions a lifetime of subservience to people he despises. Hezron tells Daniel to "go in peace" but commands him to never return to their home. He has given Daniel no hope to help him deal with his inner turmoil.

When Hezron says that the Law of Moses is more powerful than the whole might of the Roman Empire, he is emphasizing the enormous spiritual strength that the Jews derive from their religion, which sustains them throughout the period of Roman occupation. Here on earth the Romans may enjoy military superiority, but theirs is merely a temporal authority, which, like all the things of this world, is transient. Contrast that to the Law of Moses, whose authority is truly timeless and transcendent. Hezron is scathing of the zealots because they adopt the same attitude as the Romans. They think that what really matters in this world is the attainment and exercise of earthly power. As well as being wrong-headed from a practical standpoint, this attitude diverts the attention of zealots away from the most important thing of all for any Jew: fidelity to the Law.

In The Bronze Bow, what does Hezron say is stronger than all the power of Rome?

In Chapter Five, when Daniel goes to Joel's house for the first time, he meets Hezron, Joel's father, and hears what he has to say about the Roman occupation. Hezron's policy is one of accommodation, of putting up with the Romans and living with them while the Jews need to. He believes that the Law of the Jewish people is something that is infinitely more powerful than the Romans and that it is this Law that will eventually outlive the Romans. Note what he says to Daniel:

When the last Roman emperor has vanished from the earth, the Law will still endure. It is to the Law that our loyalty must be devoted.

Hezron therefore thinks that Jews must have faith in the Law alone and trust in God to rid them of their oppressors, rather than act in trying to rebel against them and bring about a revolution through man's strength alone.