'Fast' in the Bible

At this point the mariners became terrified, and each man cried out to his gods. They began to throw the cargo into the sea in order to lighten the vessel. But Jonah had gone down into the vessel's hold, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

The people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least important.