"Why is Lag LaOmer celebrated with bonfires and bows and arrows? The bow commemorates the fact that during Rabbi Shimon’s lifetime no rainbow was ever seen [Bereishit Rabbah 35:2]. Note: The absence of a rainbow is a favorable sign because it only makes an appearance when the earth deserves recompense. There is a Kabbalistic tradition that on Lag LaOmer a rainbow will appear in a different color, which will symbolize the arrival of the Messianic age [Bnei Yissaschar]."
~ Rabbi Yossi Marcus
"In response to Agincourt, the French began cutting off the index and middle fingers of all British men caught in battle or on French land, thus removing the digits that allowed the firing of a bow. This is where the British tradition of waving two fingers at someone as an insult arose. Thusly, the very American middle fingered salute, or "the bird," is a descendant of this."
"And Elisha said to him, 'Fetch a bow and arrows.' And he fetched him a bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, 'Place your hand on the bow,' and he placed his hand; and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands. And he said, 'Open the window to the east,' and he opened it; and Elisha said, 'Shoot!' And he shot. And he said, "[This is] an arrow of salvation from the L-rd, and an arrow of victory over Aram, and you shall strike the Arameans in Aphek until they are completely annihilated'" {2 Melakhim 13:15-17}.
"And he said, 'Take the arrows.' And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, 'Strike at the ground,' and he struck three times and stopped. And the man of G-d was incensed against him, and he said, 'You should have struck five or six times, then you would strike the Arameans until you would annihilate them completely, but now, you shall strike the Arameans but III times'" {2 Melakhim 13:18-19}.
