My problem was that I wanted to configure a firewall to run on my server and protect it, whereas most instructions for ipfw were for setting up firewalls to protect a lan from the internet.
I finally found some instructions for setting up the firewall like I wanted.
Yes, playing with firewalls does often lead to inaccessibility.
I hear the O’Reilly book on firewalls is decent.
My problem was that I wanted to configure a firewall to run on my server and protect it, whereas most instructions for ipfw were for setting up firewalls to protect a lan from the internet.
I finally found some instructions for setting up the firewall like I wanted.
Update