- FREEDOM The law of Moses pointed out the cases in which the
servants of the Hebrews were to receive their freedom (Exodus 21:2-4, 7,
8; Leviticus 25:39-42, 47-55; Deuteronomy 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 (Exodus 35:29), a voluntary
sacrifice (Leviticus 22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a
vow, or in expiation of some offence. - FROG (Hebrews 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 (Exodus 8:2-14; Psalm 78:45;
105:30).
In the New Testament this word occurs only in Revelation 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 Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 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, Exodus 12:2-10; 13:11-21;
Deuteronomy 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 (Hebrews kerah, from its smoothness) Job 37:10 (R.V., “ice”);
Genesis 31:40; Jeremiah 36:30; rendered “ice” in Job 6:16, 38:29; and