Archers

Those armed with arrows, whether for hunting or warfare. Archers were particularly valued on account of their accuracy.

Men who were archers

Ishmael

Genesis 21:20

And God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer.

Esau

Genesis 27:3 See also Genesis 25:27

Take your weapons — your quiver and bow — and go out into the field to hunt some game for me.

Jonathan

1 Samuel 20:18–23 See also 1 Samuel 20:35–38; 2 Samuel 1:22

Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you, and there is no danger. But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away. And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”

Archers in the army of Israel and Judah

From the tribe of Reuben

1 Chronicles 5:18

From the tribe of Benjamin

1 Chronicles 8:40, 1 Chronicles 12:1–2

In Asa's army

2 Chronicles 14:8

In Uzziah's army

2 Chronicles 26:14

Archers in the armies of other nations

The Philistines

1 Samuel 31:1–3

The Assyrians

2 Kings 19:32

The Medes

Isaiah 13:17–18; Jeremiah 50:9, Jeremiah 50:14, Jeremiah 51:11

The Lydians

Isaiah 66:19

The Babylonians

Jeremiah 4:29 a prophecy of Babylon besieging Judah

Men shot by archers

Saul

1 Samuel 31:3

When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.

Uriah

2 Samuel 11:24 See also 2 Samuel 11:14–17

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”

Ahab, king of Israel

1 Kings 22:34

However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

Joram

2 Kings 9:24

Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.

Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:23

There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”

God likened to an archer

Lamentations 3:12–13 See also Psalm 7:12–13; Lamentations 2:4; Ezekiel 5:16; Zechariah 9:13

He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow. He pierced my kidneys with His arrows.