King James Bible Dictionary

Heb. ya'ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Ecclesiastes 2:6; Isaiah 44:14; Jeremiah 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2 Samuel 18:6, 8; Joshua 17:15, 18), which is probably the same as the wood of Ephratah (Psalms 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 Samuel 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 Samuel 14:25), and of the forest of the cedars of Lebanon (1 Kings 4:33; 2 Kings 19:23; Hosea 14:5, 6).

"The house of the forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 7:2; 10:17; 2 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 27:4. It is also rendered "wood", the "wood" in the "wilderness of Ziph," in which david concealed himself (1 Samuel 23:15), which lay south-east of Hebron. In Isaiah 17:19 this word is in Authorized Version rendered incorrectly "bough."

Heb. pardes, meaning an enclosed garden or plantation. Asaph is (Nehemiah 2:8) called the "keeper of the king's forest." The same Hebrew word is used Ecclesiastes 2:5, where it is rendered in the plural "orchards" (R.V., "parks"), and Song of Solomon 4:13, rendered "orchard" (R.V. marg., "a paradise").

"The forest of the vintage" (Zechariah 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 (Isaiah 29:17; 32:15; Jeremiah 26:18; Hosea 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.

Although Palestine has never been in historical times a woodland country, yet there can be no doubt that there was much more wood formerly than there is a t present, and that the destruction of the forests was one of the chief causes of the present desolation.

FOR'EST, noun [Latin foris.]

1. An extensive wood, or a large tract of land covered with trees. In America, the word is usually applied to a wood of native growth, or a tract of woodland which has never been cultivated. It differs from wood or woods chiefly in extent. We read of the Hercynian forest in Germany, and the forest of Ardennes, in France or Gaul.

2. In law, in Great Britain, a certain territory of woody grounds and pastures, privileged for wild beasts and fowls of forest chase and warren, to rest and abide in, under the protection of the king, for his pleasure. In this sense, the word has no application in America.

Forest laws, laws for governing and regulating forests, and preserving game.

FOR'EST, verb transitive To cover with trees or wood.

FO'REST'AFF, noun An instrument used at sea, for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies; called also cross-staff.

FOR'ESTAGE, noun An ancient service paid by foresters to the king; also, the right of foresters.

FORESTALL', verb transitive [See Stall.]

1. To anticipate; to take beforehand.

Why need a man forestall his date of grief, and run to meet what he would most avoid?

2. To hinder by preoccupation or prevention.

I will not forestall your judgment of the rest.

3. In law, to buy or bargain for corn, or provisions of any kind, before they arrive at the market or fair, with intent to sell them at higher prices. This is a penal offense.

4. To deprive by something prior. [Not in use.]

FORESTALL'ED, participle passive Anticipated; hindered; purchased before arrival in market.

FORESTALL'ER, noun One who forestalls; a person who purchases provisions before they come to the fair or market, with a view to raise the price.

FORESTALL'ING, participle present tense Anticipating; hindering; buying provisions before they arrive in market, with intent to sell them at high prices.

FORESTALL'ING, noun Anticipation; prevention; the act of buying provisions before they are offered in market, with intent to sell them at higher prices.

FORESTAY, noun In a ship's rigging, a large strong rope reaching from the foremast head towards the bowsprit end, to support the mast.

FOR'ESTED, participle passive Covered with trees; wooded.

FOR'ESTER, noun

1. In England, an officer appointed to watch a forest, preserve the game, and institute suits for trespasses.

2. An inhabitant of a forest.

3. A forest tree.