Reference: Fasts
Smith
Fasts.
1. One fast only was appointed by the Mosaic law, that on the day of atonement. There is no mention of any other periodical fast in the Old Testament except in
From these passages it appears that the Jews, during their captivity, observed four annual fasts, --in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months.
2. Public fasts were occasionally proclaimed to express national humiliation and to supplicate divine favor. In the case of public danger the proclamation appears to have been accompanied with the blowing of trumpets.
(See
1Sa 7:6; 2Ch 20:3; Jer 36:6-10
) Three days after the feast of tabernacles, when the second temple was completed, "the children of Israel assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes and earth upon them," to hear the law read and to confess their sins.
3. Private occasional fasts are recognized in one passage of the law --
The instances given of individuals fasting under the influence of grief, vexation or anxiety are numerous.
4. In the New Testament the only reference to the Jewish fasts are the mention of "the fast" in
(generally understood to denote the day of atonement) an the allusions to the weekly fasts.
Mt 9:14; Mr 2:18; Lu 5:33; 18:12; Ac 10:30
These fasts originated some time after the captivity.
5. The Jewish fasts were observed with various degrees of strictness. Sometimes there was entire abstinence from food.
etc. On other occasions there appears to have been only a restriction to a very plain diet.
Those who fasted frequently dressed in sackcloth or rent their clothes, put ashes on their head and went barefoot.
6. The sacrifice of the personal will, which gives to fasting all its value, is expressed in the old term used in the law, afflicting the soul.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
A husband decides whether or not his wife has to keep any vow to do something or any oath to do without something.
The Israelites gathered at Mizpah. They drew some water, poured it out in front of Jehovah and fasted that day. They confessed: We have sinned against Jehovah. So Samuel judged Israel in Mizpah.
Elijah finished speaking. Ahab tore his clothes and took them off. He dressed in sackcloth. He refused food (fasted) and slept in the sackcloth. He was gloomy and depressed.
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came together, taking no food and putting sackcloth and dust on their bodies.
You came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders.
Go assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me. Take no food or drink night or day for three days. My women and I will do the same. Then I will go in to the king even though it is against the law. If death is to be my fate, then let it come.
But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. My prayer returned unanswered.
On a day of fasting, you must read from the scroll Jehovah's message that you wrote as I dictated. You must read it to the people in Jehovah's Temple. You must also read it to all the people of Judah when they come from their cities. Maybe their prayers will come into Jehovah's presence, and they will turn from their evil ways. Jehovah has threatened these people with his terrifying anger and fury. read more. Baruch, son of Neriah, did as the prophet Jeremiah commanded him. In Jehovah's Temple he read from the scroll everything that Jehovah had said. In the ninth month of the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, a time for fasting was called. It was a time for all the people in Jerusalem and for everyone who was coming from any city in Judah to Jerusalem to fast in Jehovah's presence. Then Baruch read the scroll containing the words of Jeremiah. Baruch read it to all the people in Jehovah's temple in the room of the scribe Gemariah, son of Shaphan, in the upper courtyard at the entrance of New Gate of Jehovah's Temple.
I ate no pleasant bread; neither flesh nor wine entered my mouth. I did not anoint myself at all until three whole weeks were completed.
Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of Jehovah comes. It is near! It is a day of darkness and gloom! It is a day of clouds and thick darkness! The dawn spreads upon the mountains. This great and mighty people have never seen anything like this. Nor will it be like this again even to the years of many generations. read more. A fire devours before them and behind them a flame burns! The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness. Yes, none have escaped them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses. They run like horsemen into war. Like the noise of chariots they leap on the tops of the mountains. It is like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble. They are a strong people set in battle array. At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale. They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like men of war. They march every one on his way and do not break their ranks. They do not crowd each other. They march every one in his path. They burst through the weapons and do not break ranks. They rush to the city. They run on the wall. They climb into the houses. They enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble! The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars cease to shine. Jehovah speaks before his army. His camp is very great! He is strong that executes his word. The Day of Jehovah is great and very terrible! Who can endure it? Even now, said Jehovah, turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning! Rip apart your heart, and not your garments. Turn to Jehovah your God! He is gracious and merciful. He is slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness. He will turn back from doing harm. Who knows whether he will turn back, feel regret and leave a blessing behind him, a meal offering and a drink offering to Jehovah your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast and call a solemn assembly.
The word of Jehovah came to Zechariah in the fourth year of King Darius. It was the fourth day of the ninth month that is Chislev. Now they of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to request the favor of Jehovah. read more. Therefore speak to the priests of the house of Jehovah of Hosts, and say to the prophets: Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these many years? Then came the word of Jehovah of Hosts to me: Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying: 'For the past seventy years did you fast for me when you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months? Did you eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? Should you hear the words that Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities near her and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'
Jehovah of Hosts said: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth month, the fast of the seventh month, and the fast of the tenth month, will be to the house of Judah joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.
The disciples of John asked: Why do your disciples not fast? They frequently fasted, and so did the Pharisees.
John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. They came to him and asked: Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not?
They said: The disciples of John fast often and make supplications. So do the disciples of the Pharisees. But yours eat and drink.
I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get.
Cornelius replied, Four days ago I was praying at this hour. It was the ninth hour and I prayed in my house. A man dressed in bright clothing stood before me.