- FIREBRAND Isaiah 7:4, Amos 4:11, Zechariah 3:2, denotes the burnt end
of a stick (Hebrews ‘ud); in Judges 15:4, a lamp or torch, a flambeau
(Hebrews lappid); in Proverbs 26:18 (comp. Ephesians 6:16), burning
darts or arrows (Hebrews zikkim). - FIREPAN (Exodus 27:3; 38:3), one of the vessels of the temple service
(rendered “snuff-dish” Exodus 25:38; 37:23; and “censer” Leviticus 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 (Genesis
1:7). The raki’a supported the upper reservoir (Psalm 148:4). It was the
support also of the heavenly bodies (Genesis 1:14), and is spoken of as
having “windows” and “doors” (Genesis 7:11; Isaiah 24:18; Malachi 3:10)
through which the rain and snow might descend. - FIRST-BORN sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deuteronomy
21:17; Genesis 25:23, 31, 34; 49:3; 1 Chronicles 5:1; Hebrews 12:16;
Psalm 89:27). (See BIRTHRIGHT.)
The “first-born of the poor” signifies the most miserable of the poor
(Isaiah 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 (Exodus 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