by writers of the New Testament, (1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16) do not appear to
have had the character of fables, properly so called.
Fair Havens
a harbor in the island of Crete, (Acts 27:8) though not mentioned in any other ancient writing,
is still known by its own Greek name, and appears to have been the harbor of Lasaea.
Fairs
a word which occurs only in (Ezekiel 27:1) ... and there no less than seven times, vs. (Ezekiel
27:12,14,16,19,22,27,33) in the last of these verses it is rendered “wares,” and this we believe to
be the true meaning of the word throughout.
Fallow Deer
(called fallow from its reddish-brown color) (Heb. yachmur). The Hebrew word, which is
mentioned only in (14:5) and 1Kin 4:23 Probably denotes the Alcelaphus bubalis (the bubale or
wild cow) of Barbary and North Africa. It is about the size of a stag, and lives in herds. It is almost
exactly like the European roebuck, and is valued for its venison.
Famine
In the whole of Syria and Arabia, the fruits of the earth must ever be dependent on rain; the
watersheds having few large springs, and the small rivers not being sufficient for the irrigation of
even the level lands. If therefore the heavy rains of November and December fail, the sustenance
of the people is cut off in the parching drought of harvest-time, when the country is almost devoid
of moisture. Egypt, again, owes all its fertility to its mighty river, whose annual rise inundates
nearly the whole land. The causes of dearth and famine in Egypt are defective inundation, preceded,
accompanied and followed by prevalent easterly and southerly winds. Famine is likewise a natural
result in the East when caterpillars, locusts or other insects destroy the products of the earth. The
first famine recorded in the Bible is that of Abraham after he had pitched his tent on the east of
Bethel, (Genesis 12:10) the second in the days of Isaac, (Genesis 26:1) seq. We hear no more of
times of scarcity until the great famine of Egypt, which “was over all the face of the earth.” (Genesis
41:53-57) The modern history of Egypt throws some curious light on these ancient records of
famines; and instances of their recurrence may be cited to assist us in understanding their course
and extent. The most remarkable famine was that of the reign of the Fatimee Khaleefeh, El-Mustansir
billah, which is the only instance on record of one of seven years duration in Egypt since the time
of Joseph (A.H. 457-464, A.D. 1064-1071). Vehement drought and pestilence continued for seven
consecutive years, so that the people ate corpses, and animals that died of themselves. The famine
of Samaria resembled it in many particulars; and that very briefly recorded in (2 Kings 8:1,2) affords
another instance of one of seven years. In Arabia famines are of frequent occurrence.
Fan
a winnowing-shovel, with which grain was thrown up against the wind to be cleansed from the
chaff and straw. (Isaiah 30:24; Matthew 3:12) A large wooden fork is used at the present day.
Farthing
Two names of coins in the New Testament are rendered in the Authorized Version by this word:
•Quadrans, (Matthew 5:26; Mark 12:42) a coin current in the time of our Lord, equivalent to
three-eights of a cent;
•The assarion, equal to one cent and a half, (Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:6)
Fasts
frankie
(Frankie)
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