|
Fair Havens - a
harbour in the south of Crete, some 5 miles to the east of which was
the town of Lasea (Acts 27:8). Here the ship of Alexandria in which
Paul and his companions sailed was detained a considerable time
waiting for a favourable wind. Contrary to Paul's advice, the master
of the ship determined to prosecute the voyage, as the harbour was
deemed incommodious for wintering in (9-12). The result was that,
after a stormy voyage, the vessel was finally wrecked on the coast
of Malta (27:40-44).
Fairs - (Heb. 'izabhonim),
found seven times in Ezek. 27, and nowhere else. The Authorized
Version renders the word thus in all these instances, except in
verse 33, where "wares" is used. The Revised Version uniformly
renders by "wares," which is the correct rendering of the Hebrew
word. It never means "fairs" in the modern sense of the word.
Faith - Faith
is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is
true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing
is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up
to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which
it rests.
Faith is the result of teaching (Rom.
10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is
sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John
2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith
includes in it assent, which is an act of the will in addition to
the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence
of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any
revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.
Historical faith is the apprehension of and
assent to certain statements which are regarded as mere facts of
history.
Temporary faith is that state of mind which
is awakened in men (e.g., Felix) by the exhibition of the truth and
by the influence of religious sympathy, or by what is sometimes
styled the common operation of the Holy Spirit.
Saving faith is so called because it has
eternal life inseparably connected with it. It cannot be better
defined than in the words of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism:
"Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and
rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the
gospel."
The object of saving faith is the whole
revealed Word of God. Faith accepts and believes it as the very
truth most sure. But the special act of faith which unites to Christ
has as its object the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ
(John 7:38; Acts 16:31). This is the specific act of faith by which
a sinner is justified before God (Rom. 3:22, 25; Gal. 2:16; Phil.
3:9; John 3:16-36; Acts 10:43; 16:31). In this act of faith the
believer appropriates and rests on Christ alone as Mediator in all
his offices.
This assent to or belief in the truth
received upon the divine testimony has always associated with it a
deep sense of sin, a distinct view of Christ, a consenting will, and
a loving heart, together with a reliance on, a trusting in, or
resting in Christ. It is that state of mind in which a poor sinner,
conscious of his sin, flees from his guilty self to Christ his
Saviour, and rolls over the burden of all his sins on him. It
consists chiefly, not in the assent given to the testimony of God in
his Word, but in embracing with fiducial reliance and trust the one
and only Saviour whom God reveals. This trust and reliance is of the
essence of faith. By faith the believer directly and immediately
appropriates Christ as his own. Faith in its direct act makes Christ
ours. It is not a work which God graciously accepts instead of
perfect obedience, but is only the hand by which we take hold of the
person and work of our Redeemer as the only ground of our salvation.
Saving faith is a moral act, as it proceeds
from a renewed will, and a renewed will is necessary to believing
assent to the truth of God (1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 4:4). Faith,
therefore, has its seat in the moral part of our nature fully as
much as in the intellectual. The mind must first be enlightened by
divine teaching (John 6:44; Acts 13:48; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:17, 18)
before it can discern the things of the Spirit.
Faith is necessary to our salvation (Mark
16:16), not because there is any merit in it, but simply because it
is the sinner's taking the place assigned him by God, his falling in
with what God is doing.
The warrant or ground of faith is the divine
testimony, not the reasonableness of what God says, but the simple
fact that he says it. Faith rests immediately on, "Thus saith the
Lord." But in order to this faith the veracity, sincerity, and truth
of God must be owned and appreciated, together with his
unchangeableness. God's word encourages and emboldens the sinner
personally to transact with Christ as God's gift, to close with him,
embrace him, give himself to Christ, and take Christ as his. That
word comes with power, for it is the word of God who has revealed
himself in his works, and especially in the cross. God is to be
believed for his word's sake, but also for his name's sake.
Faith in Christ secures for the believer
freedom from condemnation, or justification before God; a
participation in the life that is in Christ, the divine life (John
14:19; Rom. 6:4-10; Eph. 4:15,16, etc.); "peace with God" (Rom.
5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Gal. 5:6; Acts 15:9).
All who thus believe in Christ will certainly
be saved (John 6:37, 40; 10:27, 28; Rom. 8:1).
The faith=the gospel (Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5;
Gal. 1:23; 1 Tim. 3:9; Jude 1:3).
Faithful - as a
designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful, and not
simply trustworthy (Acts 10:45; 16:1; 2 Cor. 6:15; Col. 1:2; 1 Tim.
4:3, 12; 5:16; 6:2; Titus 1:6; Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 4:17, etc.).
It is used also of God's word or covenant as
true and to be trusted (Ps. 119:86, 138; Isa. 25:1; 1 Tim. 1:15;
Rev. 21:5; 22:6, etc.).
Fall of man -
an expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom,
to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and
the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity
were involved.
The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2
and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts
which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referred to
by our Lord and his apostles not only as being true, but as
furnishing the ground of all God's subsequent dispensations and
dealings with the children of men. The record of Adam's temptation
and fall must be taken as a true historical account, if we are to
understand the Bible at all as a revelation of God's purpose of
mercy.
The effects of this first sin upon our first
parents themselves were (1) "shame, a sense of degradation and
pollution; (2) dread of the displeasure of God, or a sense of guilt,
and the consequent desire to hide from his presence. These effects
were unavoidable. They prove the loss not only of innocence but of
original righteousness, and, with it, of the favour and fellowship
of God. The state therefore to which Adam was reduced by his
disobedience, so far as his subjective condition is concerned, was
analogous to that of the fallen angels. He was entirely and
absolutely ruined" (Hodge's Theology).
But the unbelief and disobedience of our
first parents brought not only on themselves this misery and ruin,
it entailed also the same sad consequences on all their descendants.
(1.) The guilt, i.e., liability to punishment, of that sin comes by
imputation upon all men, because all were represented by Adam in the
covenant of works (q.v.). (See
IMPUTATION.)
(2.) Hence, also, all his descendants inherit
a corrupt nature. In all by nature there is an inherent and
prevailing tendency to sin. This universal depravity is taught by
universal experience. All men sin as soon as they are capable of
moral actions. The testimony of the Scriptures to the same effect is
most abundant (Rom. 1; 2; 3:1-19, etc.).
(3.) This innate depravity is total: we are
by nature "dead in trespasses and sins," and must be "born again"
before we can enter into the kingdom (John 3:7, etc.).
(4.) Resulting from this "corruption of our
whole nature" is our absolute moral inability to change our nature
or to obey the law of God.
Commenting on John 9:3, Ryle well remarks: "A
deep and instructive principle lies in these words. They surely
throw some light on that great question, the origin of evil. God has
thought fit to allow evil to exist in order that he may have a
platform for showing his mercy, grace, and compassion. If man had
never fallen there would have been no opportunity of showing divine
mercy. But by permitting evil, mysterious as it seems, God's works
of grace, mercy, and wisdom in saving sinners have been wonderfully
manifested to all his creatures. The redeeming of the church of
elect sinners is the means of 'showing to principalities and powers
the manifold wisdom of God' (Eph. 3:10). Without the Fall we should
have known nothing of the Cross and the Gospel."
On the monuments of Egypt are found
representations of a deity in human form, piercing with a spear the
head of a serpent. This is regarded as an illustration of the wide
dissemination of the tradition of the Fall. The story of the "golden
age," which gives place to the "iron age", the age of purity and
innocence, which is followed by a time when man becomes a prey to
sin and misery, as represented in the mythology of Greece and Rome,
has also been regarded as a tradition of the Fall.
Fallow-deer - Deut.
14:5 (R.V., "Wild goat"); 1 Kings 4:23 (R.V., "roebucks"). This
animal, called in Hebrew yahmur, from a word meaning "to be
red," is regarded by some as the common fallow-deer, the Cervus dama,
which is said to be found very generally over Western and Southern
Asia. It is called "fallow" from its pale-red or yellow colour. Some
interpreters, however, regard the name as designating the bubale,
Antelope bubale, the "wild cow" of North Africa, which is about the
size of a stag, like the hartebeest of South Africa. A species of
deer has been found at Mount Carmel which is called yahmur by
the Arabs. It is said to be similar to the European roebuck.
Fallow-ground -
The expression, "Break up your fallow ground" (Hos. 10:12; Jer. 4:3)
means, "Do not sow your seed among thorns", i.e., break off all your
evil habits; clear your hearts of weeds, in order that they may be
prepared for the seed of righteousness. Land was allowed to lie
fallow that it might become more fruitful; but when in this
condition, it soon became overgrown with thorns and weeds. The
cultivator of the soil was careful to "break up" his fallow ground,
i.e., to clear the field of weeds, before sowing seed in it. So says
the prophet, "Break off your evil ways, repent of your sins, cease
to do evil, and then the good seed of the word will have room to
grow and bear fruit."
Familiar spirit -
Sorcerers or necormancers, who professed to call up the dead to
answer questions, were said to have a "familiar spirit" (Deut.
18:11; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chr. 33:6; Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Isa. 8:19;
29:4). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an 'ob, which
properly means a leathern bottle; for sorcerers were regarded as
vessels containing the inspiring demon. This Hebrew word was
equivalent to the pytho of the Greeks, and was used to denote both
the person and the spirit which possessed him (Lev. 20:27; 1 Sam.
28:8; comp. Acts 16:16). The word "familiar" is from the Latin
familiaris, meaning a "household servant," and was intended to
express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready
to obey their commands.
Famine - The
first mentioned in Scripture was so grievous as to compel Abraham to
go down to the land of Egypt (Gen. 26:1). Another is mentioned as
having occurred in the days of Isaac, causing him to go to Gerar
(Gen. 26:1, 17). But the most remarkable of all was that which arose
in Egypt in the days of Joseph, which lasted for seven years (Gen.
41-45).
Famines were sent as an effect of God's anger
against a guilty people (2 Kings 8:1, 2; Amos 8:11; Deut. 28:22-42;
2 Sam. 21:1; 2 Kings 6:25-28; 25:3; Jer. 14:15; 19:9; 42:17, etc.).
A famine was predicted by Agabus (Acts 11:28). Josephus makes
mention of the famine which occurred A.D. 45. Helena, queen of
Adiabene, being at Jerusalem at that time, procured corn from
Alexandria and figs from Cyprus for its poor inhabitants.
Fan - a
winnowing shovel by which grain was thrown up against the wind that
it might be cleansed from broken straw and chaff (Isa. 30:24; Jer.
15:7; Matt. 3:12). (See
AGRICULTURE.)
Farm - (Matt.
22:5). Every Hebrew had a certain portion of land assigned to him as
a possession (Num. 26:33-56). In Egypt the lands all belonged to the
king, and the husbandmen were obliged to give him a fifth part of
the produce; so in Palestine Jehovah was the sole possessor of the
soil, and the people held it by direct tenure from him. By the
enactment of Moses, the Hebrews paid a tithe of the produce to
Jehovah, which was assigned to the priesthood. Military service when
required was also to be rendered by every Hebrew at his own expense.
The occuptaion of a husbandman was held in high honour (1 Sam.
11:5-7; 1 Kings 19:19; 2 Chr. 26:10). (See LAND LAWS ¯(n/a);
TITHE.)
Farthing - (1.)
Matt. 10:29; Luke 12:6. Greek assarion, i.e., a small as,
which was a Roman coin equal to a tenth of a denarius or drachma,
nearly equal to a halfpenny of our money.
(2.) Matt. 5:26; Mark 12:42 (Gr. kodrantes),
the quadrant, the fourth of an as, equal to two lepta, mites.
The lepton (mite) was the very smallest copper coin.
Fast - The sole
fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of
Atonement (q.v.), Lev. 23:26-32. It is called "the fast" (Acts
27:9).
The only other mention of a periodical fast
in the Old Testament is in Zech. 7:1-7; 8:19, from which it appears
that during their captivity the Jews observed four annual fasts.
(1.) The fast of the fourth month, kept on
the seventeenth day of Tammuz, the anniversary of the capture of
Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; to commemorate also the incident
recorded Ex. 32:19. (Comp. Jer. 52:6, 7.)
(2.) The fast of the fifth month, kept on the
ninth of Ab (comp. Num. 14:27), to commemorate the burning of the
city and temple (Jer. 52:12, 13).
(3.) The fast of the seventh month, kept on
the third of Tisri (comp. 2 Kings 25), the anniversary of the murder
of Gedaliah (Jer. 41:1, 2).
(4.) The fast of the tenth month (comp. Jer.
52:4; Ezek. 33:21; 2 Kings 25:1), to commemorate the beginning of
the siege of the holy city by Nebuchadnezzar.
There was in addition to these the fast
appointed by Esther (4:16).
Public national fasts on account of sin or to
supplicate divine favour were sometimes held. (1.) 1 Sam. 7:6; (2.)
2 Chr. 20:3; (3.) Jer. 36:6-10; (4.) Neh. 9:1.
There were also local fasts. (1.) Judg.
20:26; (2.) 2 Sam. 1:12; (3.) 1 Sam. 31:13; (4.) 1 Kings 21:9-12;
(5.) Ezra 8:21-23: (6.) Jonah 3:5-9.
There are many instances of private
occasional fasting (1 Sam. 1:7: 20:34; 2 Sam. 3:35; 12:16; 1 Kings
21:27; Ezra 10:6; Neh. 1:4; Dan. 10:2,3). Moses fasted forty days
(Ex. 24:18; 34:28), and so also did Elijah (1 Kings 19:8). Our Lord
fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2).
In the lapse of time the practice of fasting
was lamentably abused (Isa. 58:4; Jer. 14:12; Zech. 7:5). Our Lord
rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocritical pretences in fasting
(Matt. 6:16). He himself appointed no fast. The early Christians,
however, observed the ordinary fasts according to the law of their
fathers (Acts 13:3; 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:5).
Fat - (Heb.
heleb) denotes the richest part of the animal, or the fattest of the
flock, in the account of Abel's sacrifice (Gen. 4:4). It sometimes
denotes the best of any production (Gen. 45:18; Num. 18:12; Ps.
81:16; 147:47). The fat of sacrifices was to be burned (Lev. 3:9-11;
4:8; 7:3; 8:25; Num. 18:17. Comp. Ex. 29:13-22; Lev. 3:3-5).
It is used figuratively for a dull, stupid
state of mind (Ps 17:10).
In Joel 2:24 the word is equivalent to "vat,"
a vessel. The hebrew word here thus rendered is elsewhere rendered
"wine-fat" and "press-fat" (Hag. 2:16; Isa. 63:2).
Father - a name
applied (1) to any ancestor (Deut. 1:11; 1 Kings 15:11; Matt. 3:9;
23:30, etc.); and (2) as a title of respect to a chief, ruler, or
elder, etc. (Judg. 17:10; 18:19; 1 Sam. 10:12; 2 Kings 2:12; Matt.
23:9, etc.). (3) The author or beginner of anything is also so
called; e.g., Jabal and Jubal (Gen. 4:20, 21; comp. Job 38:28).
Applied to God (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 32:6; 2 Sam.
7:14; Ps. 89:27, 28, etc.). (1.) As denoting his covenant relation
to the Jews (Jer. 31:9; Isa. 63:16; 64:8; John 8:41, etc.).
(2.) Believers are called God's "sons" (John
1:12; Rom. 8:16; Matt. 6:4, 8, 15, 18; 10:20, 29). They also call
him "Father" (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:4)
Fathom - (Old
A.S. faethm, "bosom," or the outstretched arms), a span of six feet
(Acts 27:28). Gr. orguia (from orego, "I stretch"), the distance
between the extremities of both arms fully stretched out.
Fatling - (1.)
A fatted animal for slaughter (2 Sam. 6:13; Isa. 11:6; Ezek. 39:18.
Comp. Matt. 22:4, where the word used in the original, sitistos,
means literally "corn-fed;" i.e., installed, fat). (2.) Ps. 66:15
(Heb. meah, meaning "marrowy," "fat," a species of sheep). (3.) 1
Sam. 15:9 (Heb. mishneh, meaning "the second," and hence probably
"cattle of a second quality," or lambs of the second birth, i.e.,
autmnal lambs, and therfore of less value).
Fear of the Lord
the - is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true
piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with
love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather
filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16;
64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the
God whom Isaac feared.
A holy fear is enjoined also in the New
Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an
incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12;
Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).
Feast - as a
mark of hospitality (Gen. 19:3; 2 Sam. 3:20; 2 Kings 6:23); on
occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays
(Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage
(Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22).
Feasting was a part of the observances
connected with the offering up of sacrifices (Deut. 12:6, 7; 1 Sam.
9:19; 16:3, 5), and with the annual festivals (Deut. 16:11). "It was
one of the designs of the greater solemnities, which required the
attendance of the people at the sacred tent, that the oneness of the
nation might be maintained and cemented together, by statedly
congregating in one place, and with one soul taking part in the same
religious services. But that oneness was primarily and chiefly a
religious and not merely a political one; the people were not merely
to meet as among themselves, but with Jehovah, and to present
themselves before him as one body; the meeting was in its own nature
a binding of themselves in fellowship with Jehovah; so that it was
not politics and commerce that had here to do, but the soul of the
Mosaic dispensation, the foundation of the religious and political
existence of Israel, the covenant with Jehovah. To keep the people's
consciousness alive to this, to revive, strengthen, and perpetuate
it, nothing could be so well adapated as these annual feasts." (See
FESTIVALS.)
Felix - happy, the
Roman procurator of Judea before whom Paul "reasoned" (Acts 24:25).
He appears to have expected a bribe from Paul, and therefore had
several interviews with him. The "worthy deeds" referred to in 24:2
was his clearing the country of banditti and impostors.
At the end of a two years' term, Porcius
Festus was appointed in the room of Felix (A.D. 60), who proceeded
to Rome, and was there accused of cruelty and malversation of office
by the Jews of Caesarea. The accusation was rendered nugatory by the
influence of his brother Pallas with Nero. (See Josephus, Ant. xx.
8, 9.)
Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa,
having been induced by Felix to desert her husband, the king of
Emesa, became his adulterous companion. She was seated beside him
when Paul "reasoned" before the judge. When Felix gave place to
Festus, being "willing to do the Jews a pleasure," he left Paul
bound.
Fellowship -
(1.) With God, consisting in the knowledge of his will (Job 22:21;
John 17:3); agreement with his designs (Amos 3:2); mutual affection
(Rom. 8: 38, 39); enjoyment of his presence (Ps. 4:6); conformity to
his image (1 John 2:6; 1:6); and participation of his felicity (1
John 1:3, 4; Eph. 3:14-21).
(2.) Of saints with one another, in duties
(Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:1; 1 Thess. 5:17, 18); in ordinances (Heb.
10:25; Acts 2:46); in grace, love, joy, etc. (Mal. 3:16; 2 Cor.
8:4); mutual interest, spiritual and temporal (Rom. 12:4, 13; Heb.
13:16); in sufferings (Rom. 15:1, 2; Gal. 6:1, 2; Rom. 12:15; and in
glory (Rev. 7:9).
Fence - (Heb.
gader), Num. 22:24 (R.V.). Fences were constructions of unmortared
stones, to protect gardens, vineyards, sheepfolds, etc. From various
causes they were apt to bulge out and fall (Ps. 62:3). In Ps. 80:12,
R.V. (see Isa. 5:5), the psalmist says, "Why hast thou broken down
her fences?" Serpents delight to lurk in the crevices of such fences
(Eccl. 10:8; comp. Amos 5:19).
Fenced cities -
There were in Palestine (1) cities, (2) unwalled villages, and (3)
villages with castles or towers (1 Chr. 27:25). Cities, so called,
had walls, and were thus fenced. The fortifications consisted of one
or two walls, on which were towers or parapets at regular intervals
(2 Chr. 32:5; Jer. 31:38). Around ancient Jerusalem were three
walls, on one of which were ninety towers, on the second fourteen,
and on the third sixty. The tower of Hananeel, near the north-east
corner of the city wall, is frequently referred to (Neh. 3:1; 12:39;
Zech. 14:10). The gateways of such cities were also fortified (Neh.
2:8; 3:3, 6; Judg. 16:2, 3; 1 Sam. 23:7).
The Hebrews found many fenced cities when
they entered the Promised Land (Num. 13:28; 32:17, 34-42; Josh.
11:12, 13; Judg. 1:27-33), and we may estimate the strength of some
of these cities from the fact that they were long held in possession
by the Canaanites. The Jebusites, e.g., were enabled to hold
possession of Jerusalem till the time of David (2 Sam. 5:6, 7; 1 Chr.
11:5).
Several of the kings of Israel and Judah
distinguished themselves as fortifiers or "builders" of cities.
Ferret - Lev.
11:30 (R.V., "gecko"), one of the unclean creeping things. It was
perhaps the Lacerta gecko which was intended by the Hebrew word (anakah,
a cry, "mourning," the creature which groans) here used, i.e., the
"fan-footed" lizard, the gecko which makes a mournful wail. The LXX.
translate it by a word meaning "shrew-mouse," of which there are
three species in Palestine. The Rabbinical writers regard it as the
hedgehog. The translation of the Revised Version is to be preferred.
Ferry boat - (2
Sam. 19:18), some kind of boat for crossing the river which the men
of Judah placed at the service of the king. Floats or rafts for this
purpose were in use from remote times (Isa. 18:2).
Festivals,
Religious - There were daily (Lev. 23), weekly, monthly, and
yearly festivals, and great stress was laid on the regular
observance of them in every particular (Num. 28:1-8; Ex. 29:38-42;
Lev. 6:8-23; Ex. 30:7-9; 27:20).
(1.) The septenary festivals were,
(a) The weekly Sabbath (Lev. 23:1-3; Ex.
19:3-30; 20:8-11; 31:12, etc.).
(b) The seventh new moon, or the feast of
Trumpets (Num. 28:11-15; 29:1-6).
(c) The Sabbatical year (Ex. 23:10, 11; Lev.
25:2-7).
(d) The year of jubilee (Lev. 23-35; 25:
8-16; 27:16-25).
(2.) The great feasts were,
(a) The Passover. (b) The feast of Pentecost,
or of weeks. (c) The feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering.
On each of these occasions every male
Israelite was commanded "to appear before the Lord" (Deut. 27:7; Neh.
8:9-12). The attendance of women was voluntary. (Comp. Luke 2:41; 1
Sam. 1:7; 2:19.) The promise that God would protect their homes (Ex.
34:23, 24) while all the males were absent in Jerusalem at these
feasts was always fulfilled. "During the whole period between Moses
and Christ we never read of an enemy invading the land at the time
of the three festivals. The first instance on record is thirty-three
years after they had withdrawn from themselves the divine protection
by imbruing their hands in the Saviour's blood, when Cestius, the
Roman general, slew fifty of the people of Lydda while all the rest
had gone up to the feast of Tabernacles, A.D. 66."
These festivals, besides their religious
purpose, had an important bearing on the maintenance among the
people of the feeling of a national unity. The times fixed for their
observance were arranged so as to interfere as little as possible
with the industry of the people. The Passover was kept just before
the harvest commenced, Pentecost at the conclusion of the corn
harvest and before the vintage, the feast of Tabernacles after all
the fruits of the ground had been gathered in.
(3.) The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of
the seventh month (Lev. 16:1, 34; 23:26-32; Num. 29:7-11). (See
ATONEMENT, DAY
OF.)
Of the post-Exilian festivals reference is
made to the feast of Dedication (John 10:22). This feast was
appointed by Judas Maccabaeus in commemoration of the purification
of the temple after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes. The
"feast of Purim" (q.v.), Esther 9:24-32, was also instituted after
the Exile. (Cf. John 5:1.)
Festus, Porcius -
the successor of Felix (A.D. 60) as procurator of Judea (Acts
24:27). A few weeks after he had entered on his office the case of
Paul, then a prisoner at Caesarea, was reported to him. The "next
day," after he had gone down to Caesarea, he heard Paul defend
himself in the presence of Herod Agrippa II. and his sister Bernice,
and not finding in him anything worthy of death or of bonds, would
have set him free had he not appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11, 12).
In consequence of this appeal Paul was sent to Rome. Festus, after
being in office less than two years, died in Judea. (See
AGRIPPA.)
Fever - (Deut.
28:22; Matt. 8:14; Mark 1:30; John 4:52; Acts 28:8), a burning heat,
as the word so rendered denotes, which attends all febrile attacks.
In all Eastern countries such diseases are very common. Peter's
wife's mother is said to have suffered from a "great fever" (Luke
4:38), an instance of Luke's professional exactitude in describing
disease. He adopts here the technical medical distinction, as in
those times fevers were divided into the "great" and the "less."
Field - (Heb.
sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any
cultivated ground or pasture (Gen. 29:2; 31:4; 34:7), or tillage
(Gen. 37:7; 47:24). It is also applied to woodland (Ps. 132:6) or
mountain top (Judg. 9:32, 36; 2 Sam. 1:21). It denotes sometimes a
cultivated region as opposed to the wilderness (Gen. 33:19; 36:35).
Unwalled villages or scattered houses are spoken of as "in the
fields" (Deut. 28:3, 16; Lev. 25:31; Mark 6:36, 56). The "open
field" is a place remote from a house (Gen. 4:8; Lev. 14:7, 53;
17:5). Cultivated land of any extent was called a field (Gen. 23:13,
17; 41:8; Lev. 27:16; Ruth 4:5; Neh. 12:29).
Fig - First
mentioned in Gen. 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (Deut. 8:8) as one
of the valuable products of Palestine. It was a sign of peace and
prosperity (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10). Figs were used
medicinally (2 Kings 20:7), and pressed together and formed into
"cakes" as articles of diet (1 Sam. 30:12; Jer. 24:2).
Our Lord's cursing the fig-tree near Bethany
(Mark 11:13) has occasioned much perplexity from the circumstance,
as mentioned by the evangelist, that "the time of figs was not yet."
The explanation of the words, however, lies in the simple fact that
the fruit of the fig-tree appears before the leaves, and hence that
if the tree produced leaves it ought also to have had fruit. It
ought to have had fruit if it had been true to its "pretensions," in
showing its leaves at this particular season. "This tree, so to
speak, vaunted itself to be in advance of all the other trees,
challenged the passer-by that he should come and refresh himself
with its fruit. Yet when the Lord accepted its challenge and drew
near, it proved to be but as the others, without fruit as they; for
indeed, as the evangelist observes, the time of figs had not yet
arrived. Its fault, if one may use the word, lay in its pretensions,
in its making a show to run before the rest when it did not so
indeed" (Trench, Miracles).
The fig-tree of Palestine (Ficus carica)
produces two and sometimes three crops of figs in a year, (1) the
bikkurah, or "early-ripe fig" (Micah 7:1; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 9:10, R.V.),
which is ripe about the end of June, dropping off as soon as it is
ripe (Nah. 3:12); (2) the kermus, or "summer fig," then begins to be
formed, and is ripe about August; and (3) the pag (plural "green
figs," Cant. 2:13; Gr. olynthos, Rev. 6:13, "the untimely fig"), or
"winter fig," which ripens in sheltered spots in spring.
Fillets - Heb.
hashukum, plur., joinings (Ex. 27:17; 38:17, 28), the rods by which
the tops of the columns around the tabernacle court were joined
together, and from which the curtains were suspended (Ex. 27:10, 11;
36:38).
In Jer. 52:21 the rendering of a different
word, hut, meaning a "thread," and designating a
measuring-line of 12 cubits in length for the circumference of the
copper pillars of Solomon's temple.
Finer - a
worker in silver and gold (Prov. 25:4). In Judg. 17:4 the word (tsoreph)
is rendered "founder," and in Isa. 41:7 "goldsmith."
Fining pot - a
crucible, melting-pot (Prov. 17:3; 27:21).
Fir - the
uniform rendering in the Authorized Version (marg. R.V., "cypress")
of berosh (2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Kings 5:8, 10; 6:15, 34; 9:11,
etc.), a lofty tree (Isa. 55:13) growing on Lebanon (37:24). Its
wood was used in making musical instruments and doors of houses, and
for ceilings (2 Chr. 3:5), the decks of ships (Ezek. 27:5),
floorings and spear-shafts (Nah. 2:3, R.V.). The true fir (abies) is
not found in Palestine, but the pine tree, of which there are four
species, is common.
The precise kind of tree meant by the "green
fir tree" (Hos. 14:8) is uncertain. Some regard it as the sherbin
tree, a cypress resembling the cedar; others, the Aleppo or maritime
pine (Pinus halepensis), which resembles the Scotch fir; while
others think that the "stone-pine" (Pinus pinea) is probably meant.
(See
PINE.)
Fire - (1.) For
sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20).
The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven
(Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of
Solomon's temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions "fire from heaven"
and "fire of the Lord" generally denote lightning, but sometimes
also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3;
3:5, 9).
Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise
than from the altar was called "strange fire" (Lev. 10:1, 2; Num.
3:4).
The victims slain for sin offerings were
afterwards consumed by fire outside the camp (Lev. 4:12, 21; 6:30;
16:27; Heb. 13:11).
(2.) For domestic purposes, such as baking,
cooking, warmth, etc. (Jer. 36:22; Mark 14:54; John 18:18). But on
Sabbath no fire for any domestic purpose was to be kindled (Ex.
35:3; Num. 15:32-36).
(3.) Punishment of death by fire was
inflicted on such as were guilty of certain forms of unchastity and
incest (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). The burning of captives in war was not
unknown among the Jews (2 Sam. 12:31; Jer. 29:22). The bodies of
infamous persons who were executed were also sometimes burned (Josh.
7:25; 2 Kings 23:16).
(4.) In war, fire was used in the destruction
of cities, as Jericho (Josh. 6:24), Ai (8:19), Hazor (11:11), Laish
(Judg. 18:27), etc. The war-chariots of the Canaanites were burnt
(Josh. 11:6, 9, 13). The Israelites burned the images (2 Kings
10:26; R.V., "pillars") of the house of Baal. These objects of
worship seem to have been of the nature of obelisks, and were
sometimes evidently made of wood.
Torches were sometimes carried by the
soldiers in battle (Judg. 7:16).
(5.) Figuratively, fire is a symbol of
Jehovah's presence and the instrument of his power (Ex. 14:19; Num.
11:1, 3; Judg. 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isa.
6:4; Ezek. 1:4; Rev. 1:14, etc.).
God's word is also likened unto fire (Jer.
23:29). It is referred to as an emblem of severe trials or
misfortunes (Zech. 12:6; Luke 12:49; 1 Cor. 3:13, 15; 1 Pet. 1:7),
and of eternal punishment (Matt. 5:22; Mark 9:44; Rev. 14:10; 21:8).
The influence of the Holy Ghost is likened
unto fire (Matt. 3:11). His descent was denoted by the appearance of
tongues as of fire (Acts 2:3).
Firebrand - Isa.
7:4, Amos 4:11, Zech. 3:2, denotes the burnt end of a stick (Heb. 'ud);
in Judg. 15:4, a lamp or torch, a flambeau (Heb. lappid); in Prov.
26:18 (comp. Eph. 6:16), burning darts or arrows (Heb. zikkim).
Firepan - (Ex.
27:3; 38:3), one of the vessels of the temple service (rendered
"snuff-dish" Ex. 25:38; 37:23; and "censer" Lev. 10:1; 16:12). It
was probably a metallic cinder-basin used for the purpose of
carrying live coal for burning incense, and of carrying away the
snuff in trimming the lamps.
Firkin - Used
only in John 2:6; the Attic amphora, equivalent to the Hebrew bath
(q.v.), a measure for liquids containing about 8 7/8 gallons.
Firmament -
from the Vulgate firmamentum, which is used as the translation of
the Hebrew raki'a. This word means simply "expansion." It
denotes the space or expanse like an arch appearing immediately
above us. They who rendered raki'a by firmamentum regarded it
as a solid body. The language of Scripture is not scientific but
popular, and hence we read of the sun rising and setting, and also
here the use of this particular word. It is plain that it was used
to denote solidity as well as expansion. It formed a division
between the waters above and the waters below (Gen. 1:7). The
raki'a supported the upper reservoir (Ps. 148:4). It was the
support also of the heavenly bodies (Gen. 1:14), and is spoken of as
having "windows" and "doors" (Gen. 7:11; Isa. 24:18; Mal. 3:10)
through which the rain and snow might descend.
First-born -
sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deut. 21:17; Gen. 25:23,
31, 34; 49:3; 1 Chr. 5:1; Heb. 12:16; Ps. 89:27). (See
BIRTHRIGHT.)
The "first-born of the poor" signifies the
most miserable of the poor (Isa. 14:30). The "church of the
first-born" signifies the church of the redeemed.
The destruction of the first-born was the
last of the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians (Ex. 11:1-8;
12:29, 30).
Menephtah is probably the Pharaoh whose
first-born was slain. His son did not succeed or survive his father,
but died early. The son's tomb has been found at Thebes unfinished,
showing it was needed earlier than was expected. Some of the records
on the tomb are as follows: "The son whom Menephtah loves; who draws
towards him his father's heart, the singer, the prince of archers,
who governed Egypt on behalf of his father. Dead."
Return
To Dictionary
First-born, Redemption
of - From the beginning the office of the priesthood in each
family belonged to the eldest son. But when the extensive plan of
sacrificial worship was introduced, requiring a company of men to be
exclusively devoted to this ministry, the primitive office of the
first-born was superseded by that of the Levites (Num. 3:11-13), and
it was ordained that the first-born of man and of unclean animals
should henceforth be redeemed (18:15).
The laws concerning this redemption of the
first-born of man are recorded in Ex. 13:12-15; 22:29; 34:20; Num.
3:45; 8:17; 18:16; Lev. 12:2, 4.
The first-born male of every clean animal was
to be given up to the priest for sacrifice (Deut. 12:6; Ex. 13:12;
34:20; Num. 18:15-17).
But the first-born of unclean animals was
either to be redeemed or sold and the price given to the priest
(Lev. 27:11-13, 27). The first-born of an ass, if not redeemed, was
to be put to death (Ex. 13:13; 34:20).
First-born,
Sanctification of the - A peculiar sanctity was attached to the
first-born both of man and of cattle. God claimed that the
first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him,
the one as a priest (Ex. 19:22, 24), representing the family to
which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice (Gen.
4:4).
First-fruits -
The first-fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the
first-born of man and animals.
The law required, (1.) That on the morrow
after the Passover Sabbath a sheaf of new corn should be waved by
the priest before the altar (Lev. 23:5, 6, 10, 12; 2:12).
(2.) That at the feast of Pentecost two
loaves of leavened bread, made from the new flour, were to be waved
in like manner (Lev. 23:15, 17; Num. 28:26).
(3.) The feast of Tabernacles was an
acknowledgement that the fruits of the harvest were from the Lord
(Ex. 23:16; 34:22).
(4.) Every individual, besides, was required
to consecrate to God a portion of the first-fruits of the land (Ex.
22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Num. 15:20, 21).
(5.) The law enjoined that no fruit was to be
gathered from newly-planted fruit-trees for the first three years,
and that the first-fruits of the fourth year were to be consecrated
to the Lord (Lev. 19:23-25). Jeremiah (2:3) alludes to the ordinance
of "first-fruits," and hence he must have been acquainted with the
books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where the laws regarding it
are recorded.
Fish - called
dag by the Hebrews, a word denoting great fecundity (Gen.
9:2; Num. 11:22; Jonah 2:1, 10). No fish is mentioned by name either
in the Old or in the New Testament. Fish abounded in the
Mediterranean and in the lakes of the Jordan, so that the Hebrews
were no doubt acquainted with many species. Two of the villages on
the shores of the Sea of Galilee derived their names from their
fisheries, Bethsaida (the "house of fish") on the east and on the
west. There is probably no other sheet of water in the world of
equal dimensions that contains such a variety and profusion of fish.
About thirty-seven different kinds have been found. Some of the
fishes are of a European type, such as the roach, the barbel, and
the blenny; others are markedly African and tropical, such as the
eel-like silurus. There was a regular fish-market apparently in
Jerusalem (2 Chr. 33:14; Neh. 3:3; 12:39; Zeph. 1:10), as there was
a fish-gate which was probably contiguous to it.
Sidon is the oldest fishing establishment
known in history.
Fisher -
Besides its literal sense (Luke 5:2), this word is also applied by
our Lord to his disciples in a figurative sense (Matt. 4:19; Mark
1:17).
Fish-hooks -
were used for catching fish (Amos 4:2; comp. Isa. 37:29; Jer. 16:16;
Ezek. 29:4; Job. 41:1, 2; Matt. 17:27).
Fishing, the art of
- was prosecuted with great industry in the waters of Palestine.
It was from the fishing-nets that Jesus called his disciples (Mark
1:16-20), and it was in a fishing-boat he rebuked the winds and the
waves (Matt. 8:26) and delivered that remarkable series of
prophecies recorded in Matt. 13. He twice miraculously fed
multitudes with fish and bread (Matt. 14:19; 15:36). It was in the
mouth of a fish that the tribute-money was found (Matt. 17:27). And
he "ate a piece of broiled fish" with his disciples after his
resurrection (Luke 24:42, 43; comp. Acts 1:3). At the Sea of
Tiberias (John 21:1-14), in obedience to his direction, the
disciples cast their net "on the right side of the ship," and
enclosed so many that "they were not able to draw it for the
multitude of fishes."
Two kinds of fishing-nets are mentioned in
the New Testament:
(1.) The casting-net (Matt. 4:18; Mark 1:16).
(2.) The drag-net or seine (Matt. 13:48).
Fish were also caught by the fishing-hook
(Matt. 17:27). (See
NET.)
Fish-pools - (Cant.
7:4) should be simply "pools," as in the Revised Version. The
reservoirs near Heshbon (q.v.) were probably stocked with fish (2
Sam. 2:13; 4:12; Isa. 7:3; 22:9, 11).
Fitches - (Isa.
28:25, 27), the rendering of the Hebrew ketsah, "without
doubt the Nigella sativa, a small annual of the order Ranunculacece,
which grows wild in the Mediterranean countries, and is cultivated
in Egypt and Syria for its seed." It is rendered in margin of the
Revised Version "black cummin." The seeds are used as a condiment.
In Ezek. 4:9 this word is the rendering of
the Hebrew kussemeth (incorrectly rendered "rye" in the
Authorized Version of Ex. 9:32 and Isa. 28:25, but "spelt" in the
Revised Version). The reading "fitches" here is an error; it should
be "spelt."
Flag - (Heb.,
or rather Egyptian, ahu, Job 8:11), rendered "meadow" in Gen. 41:2,
18; probably the Cyperus esculentus, a species of rush eaten by
cattle, the Nile reed. It also grows in Palestine.
In Ex. 2:3, 5, Isa. 19:6, it is the rendering
of the Hebrew suph_, a word which occurs frequently in connection
with _yam; as yam suph, to denote the "Red Sea" (q.v.) or
the sea of weeds (as this word is rendered, Jonah 2:5). It denotes
some kind of sedge or reed which grows in marshy places. (See PAPER
¯T0002840,
REED.)
Flagon - Heb.
ashishah, (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), meaning
properly "a cake of pressed raisins." "Flagons of wine" of the
Authorized Version should be, as in the Revised Version, "cakes of
raisins" in all these passages. In Isa. 22:24 it is the rendering of
the Hebrew nebel, which properly means a bottle or vessel of
skin. (Comp. 1 Sam. 1:24; 10:3; 25:18; 2 Sam. 16:1, where the same
Hebrew word is used.)
Flame of fire -
is the chosen symbol of the holiness of God (Ex. 3:2; Rev. 2:18), as
indicating "the intense, all-consuming operation of his holiness in
relation to sin."
Flax - (Heb.
pishtah, i.e., "peeled", in allusion to the fact that the stalks of
flax when dried were first split or peeled before being steeped in
water for the purpose of destroying the pulp). This plant was
cultivated from earliest times. The flax of Egypt was destroyed by
the plague of hail when it "was bolled", i.e., was forming pods for
seed (Ex. 9:31). It was extensively cultivated both in Egypt and
Palestine. Reference is made in Josh. 2:6 to the custom of drying
flax-stalks by exposing them to the sun on the flat roofs of houses.
It was much used in forming articles of clothing such as girdles,
also cords and bands (Lev. 13:48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11). (See
LINEN.)
Flea - David at the
cave of Adullam thus addressed his persecutor Saul (1 Sam. 24:14):
"After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou
pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea?" He thus speaks of himself
as the poor, contemptible object of the monarch's pursuit, a "worthy
object truly for an expedition of the king of Israel with his picked
troops!" This insect is in Eastern language the popular emblem of
insignificance. In 1 Sam. 26:20 the LXX. read "come out to seek my
life" instead of "to seek a flea."
Fleece - the
wool of a sheep, whether shorn off or still attached to the skin
(Deut. 18:4; Job 31:20). The miracle of Gideon's fleece (Judg.
6:37-40) consisted in the dew having fallen at one time on the
fleece without any on the floor, and at another time in the fleece
remaining dry while the ground was wet with dew.
Flesh - in the
Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and
animals (Gen. 2:21; 41:2; Ps. 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps.
16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity
as a whole (Gen. 6:12, 13); (4) mutability and weakness (2 Chr.
32:8; comp. Isa. 31:3; Ps. 78:39). As suggesting the idea of
softness it is used in the expression "heart of flesh" (Ezek.
11:19). The expression "my flesh and bone" (Judg. 9:2; Isa. 58:7)
denotes relationship.
In the New Testament, besides these it is
also used to denote the sinful element of human nature as opposed to
the "Spirit" (Rom. 6:19; Matt. 16:17). Being "in the flesh" means
being unrenewed (Rom. 7:5; 8:8, 9), and to live "according to the
flesh" is to live and act sinfully (Rom. 8:4, 5, 7, 12).
This word also denotes the human nature of
Christ (John 1:14, "The Word was made flesh." Comp. also 1 Tim.
3:16; Rom. 1:3).
Flesh-hook - a
many-pronged fork used in the sacrificial services (1 Sam. 2:13, 14;
Ex. 27:3; 38:3) by the priest in drawing away the flesh. The fat of
the sacrifice, together with the breast and shoulder (Lev. 7:29-34),
were presented by the worshipper to the priest. The fat was burned
on the alter (3:3-5), and the breast and shoulder became the portion
of the priests. But Hophni and Phinehas, not content with this, sent
a servant to seize with a flesh-hook a further portion.
Flint - abounds
in all the plains and valleys of the wilderness of the forty years'
wanderings. In Isa. 50:7 and Ezek. 3:9 the expressions, where the
word is used, means that the "Messiah would be firm and resolute
amidst all contempt and scorn which he would meet; that he had made
up his mind to endure it, and would not shrink from any kind or
degree of suffering which would be necessary to accomplish the great
work in which he was engaged." (Comp. Ezek. 3:8, 9.) The words "like
a flint" are used with reference to the hoofs of horses (Isa. 5:28).
Flood - an
event recorded in Gen. 7 and 8. (See
DELUGE.) In Josh. 24:2, 3, 14, 15, the word "flood" (R.V.,
"river") means the river Euphrates. In Ps. 66:6, this word refers to
the river Jordan.
Flour - Grain
reduced to the form of meal is spoken of in the time of Abraham
(Gen. 18:6). As baking was a daily necessity, grain was also ground
daily at the mills (Jer. 25:10). The flour mingled with water was
kneaded in kneading-troughs, and sometimes leaven (Ex. 12:34) was
added and sometimes omitted (Gen. 19:3). The dough was then formed
into thin cakes nine or ten inches in diameter and baked in the
oven.
Fine flour was offered by the poor as a
sin-offering (Lev. 5:11-13), and also in connection with other
sacrifices (Num. 15:3-12; 28:7-29).
Flowers - Very
few species of flowers are mentioned in the Bible although they
abounded in Palestine. It has been calculated that in Western Syria
and Palestine from two thousand to two thousand five hundred plants
are found, of which about five hundred probably are British
wild-flowers. Their beauty is often alluded to (Cant. 2:12; Matt.
6:28). They are referred to as affording an emblem of the transitory
nature of human life (Job 14:2; Ps. 103:15; Isa. 28:1; 40:6; James
1:10). Gardens containing flowers and fragrant herbs are spoken of
(Cant. 4:16; 6:2).
Flute - a
musical instrument, probably composed of a number of pipes,
mentioned Dan. 3:5, 7, 10, 15.
In Matt. 9:23, 24, notice is taken of players
on the flute, here called "minstrels" (but in R.V. "flute-players").
Flutes were in common use among the ancient
Egyptians.
Fly - Heb.
zebub, (Eccl. 10:1; Isa. 7:18). This fly was so grievous a pest that
the Phoenicians invoked against it the aid of their god Baal-zebub
(q.v.). The prophet Isaiah (7:18) alludes to some poisonous fly
which was believed to be found on the confines of Egypt, and which
would be called by the Lord. Poisonous flies exist in many parts of
Africa, for instance, the different kinds of tsetse.
Heb. 'arob, the name given to the insects
sent as a plague on the land of Egypt (Ex. 8:21-31; Ps. 78:45;
105:31). The LXX. render this by a word which means the "dog-fly,"
the cynomuia. The Jewish commentators regarded the Hebrew word here
as connected with the word 'arab, which means "mingled;" and
they accordingly supposed the plague to consist of a mixed multitude
of animals, beasts, reptiles, and insects. But there is no doubt
that "the 'arab" denotes a single definite species. Some
interpreters regard it as the Blatta orientalis, the cockroach, a
species of beetle. These insects "inflict very painful bites with
their jaws; gnaw and destroy clothes, household furniture, leather,
and articles of every kind, and either consume or render unavailable
all eatables."
Foam - (Hos.
10:7), the rendering of ketseph, which properly means twigs
or splinters (as rendered in the LXX. and marg. R.V.). The
expression in Hosea may therefore be read, "as a chip on the face of
the water," denoting the helplessness of the piece of wood as
compared with the irresistable current.
Fodder - Heb.
belil, (Job 6:5), meaning properly a mixture or medley (Lat.
farrago), "made up of various kinds of grain, as wheat, barley,
vetches, and the like, all mixed together, and then sown or given to
cattle" (Job 24:6, A.V. "corn," R.V. "provender;" Isa. 30:24,
provender").
Fold - an
enclosure for flocks to rest together (Isa. 13:20). Sheep-folds are
mentioned Num. 32:16, 24, 36; 2 Sam. 7:8; Zeph. 2:6; John 10:1, etc.
It was prophesied of the cities of Ammon (Ezek. 25:5), Aroer (Isa.
17:2), and Judaea, that they would be folds or couching-places for
flocks. "Among the pots," of the Authorized Version (Ps. 68:13), is
rightly in the Revised Version, "among the sheepfolds."
Food -
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for
food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The
use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians.
There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after
the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the
patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11.
Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num.
11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously
supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex. 16:11-13; Num.
11:31).
In the law of Moses there are special
regulations as to the animals to be used for food (Lev. 11; Deut.
14:3-21). The Jews were also forbidden to use as food anything that
had been consecrated to idols (Ex. 34:15), or animals that had died
of disease or had been torn by wild beasts (Ex. 22:31; Lev. 22:8).
(See also for other restrictions Ex. 23:19; 29:13-22; Lev. 3:4-9;
9:18, 19; 22:8; Deut. 14:21.) But beyond these restrictions they had
a large grant from God (Deut. 14:26; 32:13, 14).
Food was prepared for use in various ways.
The cereals were sometimes eaten without any preparation (Lev.
23:14; Deut. 23:25; 2 Kings 4:42). Vegetables were cooked by boiling
(Gen. 25:30, 34; 2 Kings 4:38, 39), and thus also other articles of
food were prepared for use (Gen. 27:4; Prov. 23:3; Ezek. 24:10; Luke
24:42; John 21:9). Food was also prepared by roasting (Ex. 12:8;
Lev. 2:14). (See
COOK.)
Footstool -
connected with a throne (2 Chr. 9:18). Jehovah symbolically dwelt in
the holy place between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant.
The ark was his footstool (1 Chr. 28:2; Ps. 99:5; 132:7). And as
heaven is God's throne, so the earth is his footstool (Ps. 110:1;
Isa. 66:1; Matt. 5:35).
Forces - of the
Gentiles (Isa. 60:5, 11; R.V., "the wealth of the nations") denotes
the wealth of the heathen. The whole passage means that the wealth
of the Gentile world should be consecrated to the service of the
church.
Ford - Mention
is frequently made of the fords of the Jordan (Josh. 2:7; Judg.
3:28; 12:5, 6), which must have been very numerous; about fifty
perhaps. The most notable was that of Bethabara. Mention is also
made of the ford of the Jabbok (Gen. 32:22), and of the fords of
Arnon (Isa. 16:2) and of the Euphrates (Jer. 51:32).
Forehead - The
practice common among Oriental nations of colouring the forehead or
impressing on it some distinctive mark as a sign of devotion to some
deity is alluded to in Rev. 13:16, 17; 14:9; 17:5; 20:4.
The "jewel on thy forehead" mentioned in
Ezek. 16:12 (R.V., "a ring upon thy nose") was in all probability
the "nose-ring" (Isa. 3:21).
In Ezek. 3:7 the word "impudent" is rightly
rendered in the Revised Version "an hard forehead." (See also ver.
8, 9.)
Foreigner - a
Gentile. Such as resided among the Hebrews were required by the law
to be treated with kindness (Ex. 22:21; 23:9; Lev. 19:33, 34; 23:22;
Deut. 14:28; 16:10, 11; 24:19). They enjoyed in many things equal
rights with the native-born residents (Ex. 12:49; Lev. 24:22; Num.
15:15; 35:15), but were not allowed to do anything which was an
abomination according to the Jewish law (Ex. 20:10; Lev. 17:15,16;
18:26; 20:2; 24:16, etc.).
Foreknowledge of
God - Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2), one of those high
attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which
we cannot comprehend. In the most absolute sense his knowledge is
infinite (1 Sam. 23:9-13; Jer. 38:17-23; 42:9-22, Matt. 11:21, 23;
Acts 15:18).
Forerunner -
John the Baptist went before our Lord in this character (Mark 1:2,
3). Christ so called (Heb. 6:20) as entering before his people into
the holy place as their head and guide.
Forest - Heb.
ya'ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great
primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah
5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2
Sam. 18:6, 8; Josh. 17:15, 18), which is probably the same as the
wood of Ephratah (Ps. 132:6), some part of the great forest of
Gilead. It was in this forest that Absalom was slain by Joab. David
withdrew to the forest of Hareth in the mountains of Judah to avoid
the fury of Saul (1 Sam. 22:5). We read also of the forest of Bethel
(2 Kings 2:23, 24), and of that which the Israelites passed in their
pursuit of the Philistines (1 Sam. 14:25), and of the forest of the
cedars of Lebanon (1 Kings 4:33; 2 Kings 19:23; Hos. 14:5, 6).
"The house of the forest of Lebanon (1 Kings
7:2; 10:17; 2 Chr. 9:16) was probably Solomon's armoury, and was so
called because the wood of its many pillars came from Lebanon, and
they had the appearance of a forest. (See
BAALBEC.)
Heb. horesh, denoting a thicket of trees,
underwood, jungle, bushes, or trees entangled, and therefore
affording a safe hiding-place. place. This word is rendered "forest"
only in 2 Chr. 27:4. It is also rendered "wood", the "wood" in the
"wilderness of Ziph," in which david concealed himself (1 Sam.
23:15), which lay south-east of Hebron. In Isa. 17:19 this word is
in Authorized Version rendered incorrectly "bough."
Heb. pardes, meaning an enclosed garden or
plantation. Asaph is (Neh. 2:8) called the "keeper of the king's
forest." The same Hebrew word is used Eccl. 2:5, where it is
rendered in the plural "orchards" (R.V., "parks"), and Cant. 4: 13,
rendered "orchard" (R.V. marg., "a paradise").
"The forest of the vintage" (Zech. 11:2,
"inaccessible forest," or R.V. "strong forest") is probably a
figurative allusion to Jerusalem, or the verse may simply point to
the devastation of the region referred to.
The forest is an image of unfruitfulness as
contrasted with a cultivated field (Isa. 29:17; 32:15; Jer. 26:18;
Hos. 2:12). Isaiah (10:19, 33, 34) likens the Assyrian host under
Sennacherib (q.v.) to the trees of some huge forest, to be suddenly
cut down by an unseen stroke.
Forgiveness of sin -
one of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin,
God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that
on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin,
or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it.
All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The
sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and
penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps.
130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See
JUSTIFICATION.)
Fornication - in
every form of it was sternly condemned by the Mosaic law (Lev. 21:9;
19:29; Deut. 22:20, 21, 23-29; 23:18; Ex. 22:16). (See
ADULTERY.)
But this word is more frequently used in a
symbolical than in its ordinary sense. It frequently means a
forsaking of God or a following after idols (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20;
Ezek. 16; Hos. 1:2; 2:1-5; Jer. 3:8,9).
Fortunatus -
fortunate, a disciple of Corinth who visited Paul at Ephesus, and
returned with Stephanas and Achaicus, the bearers of the apostle's
first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:17).
Fountain -
(Heb. 'ain; i.e., "eye" of the water desert), a natural source of
living water. Palestine was a "land of brooks of water, of
fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills" (Deut.
8:7; 11:11).
These fountains, bright sparkling "eyes" of
the desert, are remarkable for their abundance and their beauty,
especially on the west of Jordan. All the perennial rivers and
streams of the country are supplied from fountains, and depend
comparatively little on surface water. "Palestine is a country of
mountains and hills, and it abounds in fountains of water. The
murmur of these waters is heard in every dell, and the luxuriant
foliage which surrounds them is seen in every plain." Besides its
rain-water, its cisterns and fountains, Jerusalem had also an
abundant supply of water in the magnificent reservoir called
"Solomon's Pools" (q.v.), at the head of the Urtas valley, whence it
was conveyed to the city by subterrean channels some 10 miles in
length. These have all been long ago destroyed, so that no water
from the "Pools" now reaches Jerusalem. Only one fountain has been
discovered at Jerusalem, the so-called "Virgins's Fountains," in the
valley of Kidron; and only one well (Heb. beer), the Bir Eyub, also
in the valley of Kidron, south of the King's Gardens, which has been
dug through the solid rock. The inhabitants of Jerusalem are now
mainly dependent on the winter rains, which they store in cisterns.
(See
WELL.)
Fountain of the Virgin
- the perennial source from which the Pool of Siloam (q.v.) is
supplied, the waters flowing in a copious stream to it through a
tunnel cut through the rock, the actual length of which is 1,750
feet. The spring rises in a cave 20 feet by 7. A serpentine tunnel
67 feet long runs from it toward the left, off which the tunnel to
the Pool of Siloam branches. It is the only unfailing fountain in
Jerusalem.
The fountain received its name from the
"fantastic legend" that here the virgin washed the swaddling-clothes
of our Lord.
This spring has the singular characteristic
of being intermittent, flowing from three to five times daily in
winter, twice daily in summer, and only once daily in autumn. This
peculiarity is accounted for by the supposition that the outlet from
the reservoir is by a passage in the form of a siphon.
Fowler - the
arts of, referred to Ps. 91:3; 124:7; Prov. 6:5; Jer. 5:26; Hos.
9:8; Ezek. 17:20; Eccl. 9:12. Birds of all kinds abound in
Palestine, and the capture of these for the table and for other uses
formed the employment of many persons. The traps and snares used for
this purpose are mentioned Hos. 5:1; Prov. 7:23; 22:5; Amos 3:5; Ps.
69:22; comp. Deut. 22:6, 7.
Fox - (Heb.
shu'al, a name derived from its digging or burrowing under ground),
the Vulpes thaleb, or Syrian fox, the only species of this animal
indigenous to Palestine. It burrows, is silent and solitary in its
habits, is destructive to vineyards, being a plunderer of ripe
grapes (Cant. 2:15). The Vulpes Niloticus, or Egyptian dog-fox, and
the Vulpes vulgaris, or common fox, are also found in Palestine.
The proverbial cunning of the fox is alluded
to in Ezek. 13:4, and in Luke 13:32, where our Lord calls Herod
"that fox." In Judg. 15:4, 5, the reference is in all probability to
the jackal. The Hebrew word shu'al_ through the Persian _schagal
becomes our jackal (Canis aureus), so that the word may bear that
signification here. The reasons for preferring the rendering
"jackal" are (1) that it is more easily caught than the fox; (2)
that the fox is shy and suspicious, and flies mankind, while the
jackal does not; and (3) that foxes are difficult, jackals
comparatively easy, to treat in the way here described. Jackals hunt
in large numbers, and are still very numerous in Southern Palestine.
Frankincense -
(Heb. lebonah; Gr. libanos, i.e., "white"), an odorous resin
imported from Arabia (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20), yet also growing in
Palestine (Cant. 4:14). It was one of the ingredients in the perfume
of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of
the meat-offering (Lev. 2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7). When burnt it emitted
a fragrant odour, and hence the incense became a symbol of the
Divine name (Mal. 1:11; Cant. 1:3) and an emblem of prayer (Ps.
141:2; Luke 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3).
This frankincense, or olibanum, used by the
Jews in the temple services is not to be confounded with the
frankincense of modern commerce, which is an exudation of the Norway
spruce fir, the Pinus abies. It was probably a resin from the Indian
tree known to botanists by the name of Boswellia serrata or
thurifera, which grows to the height of forty feet.
Freedom - The
law of Moses pointed out the cases in which the servants of the
Hebrews were to receive their freedom (Ex. 21:2-4, 7, 8; Lev.
25:39-42, 47-55; Deut. 15:12-18). Under the Roman law the "freeman"
(ingenuus) was one born free; the "freedman" (libertinus) was a
manumitted slave, and had not equal rights with the freeman (Acts
22:28; comp. Acts 16:37-39; 21:39; 22:25; 25:11, 12).
Free-will offering
- a spontaneous gift (Ex. 35:29), a voluntary sacrifice (Lev.
22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in
expiation of some offence.
Frog - (Heb.
tsepharde'a, meaning a "marsh-leaper"). This reptile is mentioned in
the Old Testament only in connection with one of the plagues which
fell on the land of Egypt (Ex. 8:2-14; Ps. 78:45; 105:30).
In the New Testament this word occurs only in
Rev. 16:13, where it is referred to as a symbol of uncleanness. The
only species of frog existing in Palestine is the green frog (Rana
esculenta), the well-known edible frog of the Continent.
Frontlets -
occurs only in Ex. 13:16; Deut. 6:8, and 11:18. The meaning of the
injunction to the Israelites, with regard to the statues and
precepts given them, that they should "bind them for a sign upon
their hand, and have them as frontlets between their eyes," was that
they should keep them distinctly in view and carefully attend to
them. But soon after their return from Babylon they began to
interpret this injunction literally, and had accordingly portions of
the law written out and worn about their person. These they called
tephillin, i.e., "prayers." The passages so written out on strips of
parchment were these, Ex. 12:2-10; 13:11-21; Deut. 6:4-9; 11:18-21.
They were then "rolled up in a case of black calfskin, which was
attached to a stiffer piece of leather, having a thong one finger
broad and one cubit and a half long. Those worn on the forehead were
written on four strips of parchment, and put into four little cells
within a square case, which had on it the Hebrew letter called shin,
the three points of which were regarded as an emblem of God." This
case tied around the forehead in a particular way was called "the
tephillah on the head." (See
PHYLACTERY.)
Frost - (Heb. kerah,
from its smoothness) Job 37:10 (R.V., "ice"); Gen. 31:40; Jer.
36:30; rendered "ice" in Job 6:16, 38:29; and "crystal" in Ezek.
1:22. "At the present day frost is entirely unknown in the lower
portions of the valley of the Jordan, but slight frosts are
sometimes felt on the sea-coast and near Lebanon." Throughout
Western Asia cold frosty nights are frequently succeeded by warm
days.
"Hoar frost" (Heb. kephor, so called from its
covering the ground) is mentioned in Ex. 16:14; Job 38:29; Ps.
147:16.
In Ps. 78:47 the word rendered "frost" (R.V.
marg., "great hail-stones"), hanamal, occurs only there. It
is rendered by Gesenius, the Hebrew lexicographer, "ant," and so
also by others, but the usual interpretation derived from the
ancient versions may be maintained.
Fruit - a word
as used in Scripture denoting produce in general, whether vegetable
or animal. The Hebrews divided the fruits of the land into three
classes:,
(1.) The fruit of the field, "corn-fruit"
(Heb. dagan); all kinds of grain and pulse.
(2.) The fruit of the vine, "vintage-fruit"
(Heb. tirosh); grapes, whether moist or dried.
(3.) "Orchard-fruits" (Heb. yitshar), as
dates, figs, citrons, etc.
Injunctions concerning offerings and tithes
were expressed by these Hebrew terms alone (Num. 18:12; Deut.
14:23). This word "fruit" is also used of children or offspring
(Gen. 30:2; Deut. 7:13; Luke 1:42; Ps. 21:10; 132:11); also of the
progeny of beasts (Deut. 28:51; Isa. 14:29).
It is used metaphorically in a variety of
forms (Ps. 104:13; Prov. 1:31; 11:30; 31:16; Isa. 3:10; 10:12; Matt.
3:8; 21:41; 26:29; Heb. 13:15; Rom. 7:4, 5; 15:28).
The fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23; Eph.
5:9; James 3:17, 18) are those gracious dispositions and habits
which the Spirit produces in those in whom he dwells and works.
Frying-pan -
(Heb. marhesheth, a "boiler"), a pot for boiling meat (Lev. 2:7;
7:9).
Fuel - Almost
every kind of combustible matter was used for fuel, such as the
withered stalks of herbs (Matt. 6:30), thorns (Ps. 58:9; Eccl. 7:6),
animal excrements (Ezek. 4:12-15; 15:4, 6; 21:32). Wood or charcoal
is much used still in all the towns of Syria and Egypt. It is
largely brought from the region of Hebron to Jerusalem. (See
COAL.)
Fugitive - Gen.
4:12, 14, a rover or wanderer (Heb. n'a); Judg. 12:4, a refugee, one
who has escaped (Heb. palit); 2 Kings 25:11, a deserter, one who has
fallen away to the enemy (Heb. nophel); Ezek. 17:21, one who has
broken away in flight (Heb. mibrah); Isa. 15:5; 43:14, a breaker
away, a fugitive (Heb. beriah), one who flees away.
Fuller - The
word "full" is from the Anglo-Saxon fullian, meaning "to whiten." To
full is to press or scour cloth in a mill. This art is one of great
antiquity. Mention is made of "fuller's soap" (Mal. 3:2), and of
"the fuller's field" (2 Kings 18:17). At his transfiguration our
Lord's rainment is said to have been white "so as no fuller on earth
could white them" (Mark 9:3). En-rogel (q.v.), meaning literally
"foot-fountain," has been interpreted as the "fuller's fountain,"
because there the fullers trod the cloth with their feet.
Fuller's field -
a spot near Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17; Isa. 36:2; 7:3), on the
side of the highway west of the city, not far distant from the
"upper pool" at the head of the valley of Hinnom. Here the fullers
pursued their occupation.
Fuller's soap -
(Heb. borith mekabbeshim, i.e., "alkali of those treading cloth").
Mention is made (Prov. 25:20; Jer. 2:22) of nitre and also (Mal.
3:2) of soap (Heb. borith) used by the fuller in his operations.
Nitre is found in Syria, and vegetable alkali was obtained from the
ashes of certain plants. (See
SOAP.)
Fulness - (1.) Of
time (Gal. 4:4), the time appointed by God, and foretold by the
prophets, when Messiah should appear. (2.) Of Christ (John 1:16),
the superabundance of grace with which he was filled. (3.) Of the
Godhead bodily dwelling in Christ (Col. 2:9), i.e., the whole nature
and attributes of God are in Christ. (4.) Eph. 1:23, the church as
the fulness of Christ, i.e., the church makes Christ a complete and
perfect head.
Funeral -
Burying was among the Jews the only mode of disposing of corpses
(Gen. 23:19; 25:9; 35:8, 9, etc.).
The first traces of burning the dead are
found in 1 Sam. 31:12. The burning of the body was affixed by the
law of Moses as a penalty to certain crimes (Lev. 20:14; 21:9).
To leave the dead unburied was regarded with
horror (1 Kings 13:22; 14:11; 16:4; 21:24, etc.).
In the earliest times of which we have record
kinsmen carried their dead to the grave (Gen. 25:9; 35:29; Judg.
16:31), but in later times this was done by others (Amos 6:16).
Immediately after decease the body was
washed, and then wrapped in a large cloth (Acts 9:37; Matt. 27:59;
Mark 15:46). In the case of persons of distinction, aromatics were
laid on the folds of the cloth (John 19:39; comp. John 12:7).
As a rule the burial (q.v.) took place on the
very day of the death (Acts 5:6, 10), and the body was removed to
the grave in an open coffin or on a bier (Luke 7:14). After the
burial a funeral meal was usually given (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:5, 7;
Hos. 9:4).
Furlong - a
stadium, a Greek measure of distance equal to 606 feet and 9 inches
(Luke 24:13; John 6:19; 11:18; Rev. 14:20; 21:16).
Furnace - (1.)
Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of
which materials were cast in (Dan. 3:22, 23; comp. Jer. 29:22). This
furnace would be in constant requisition, for the Babylonians
disposed of their dead by cremation, as did also the Accadians who
invaded Mesopotamia.
(2.) Heb. kibshan, a smelting furnace (Gen.
19:28), also a lime-kiln (Isa. 33:12; Amos 2:1).
(3.) Heb. kur, a refining furnace (Prov.
17:3; 27:21; Ezek. 22:18).
(4.) Heb. alil, a crucible; only used in Ps.
12:6.
(5.) Heb. tannur, oven for baking bread (Gen.
15:17; Isa. 31:9; Neh. 3:11). It was a large pot, narrowing towards
the top. When it was heated by a fire made within, the dough was
spread over the heated surface, and thus was baked. "A smoking
furnace and a burning lamp" (Gen. 15:17), the symbol of the presence
of the Almighty, passed between the divided pieces of Abraham's
sacrifice in ratification of the covenant God made with him. (See
OVEN.)
(6.) Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven
(Matt. 13:42, 50; Rev. 1:15; 9:2).
Furrow - an opening
in the ground made by the plough (Ps. 65:10; Hos. 10:4, 10).
Return
To Dictionary
|