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Library > Dictionaries > Easton's Bible Dictionary > Fast
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The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), Leviticus 23:26-32 . It is called "the fast" ( Acts 27:9 ).

The only other mention of a periodical fast in the Old Testament is in Zechariah 7:1-7 ; 8:19 , from which it appears that during their captivity the Jews observed four annual fasts.

  • The fast of the fourth month, kept on the seventeenth day of Tammuz, the anniversary of the capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; to commemorate also the incident recorded Exodus 32:19 . (Compare Jeremiah 52:6 Jeremiah 52:7 .)

  • The fast of the fifth month, kept on the ninth of Ab (Compare Numbers 14:27 ), to commemorate the burning of the city and temple ( Jeremiah 52:12 Jeremiah 52:13 ).

  • The fast of the seventh month, kept on the third of Tisri (Compare 2 Kings 25 ), the anniversary of the murder of Gedaliah ( Jeremiah 41:1 Jeremiah 41:2 ).

  • The fast of the tenth month (Compare Jeremiah 52:4 ; Ezek. 33:21 ; 2 Kings 25:1 ), to commemorate the beginning of the siege of the holy city by Nebuchadnezzar.

    There was in addition to these the fast appointed by ( Esther 4:16 ).

    Public national fasts on account of sin or to supplicate divine favour were sometimes held.

  • 1 Samuel 7:6 ;
  • 2 Chronicles 20:3 ;
  • Jeremiah 36:6-10 ;
  • Nehemiah 9:1 .

    There were also local fasts.

  • Judges 20:26 ;
  • 2 Samuel 1:12 ;
  • 1 Samuel 31:13 ;
  • 1 Kings 21:9-12 ;
  • Ezra 8:21-23 :
  • Jonah 3:5-9 .

    There are many instances of private occasional fasting ( 1 Samuel 1:7 : 20:34 ; 2 Sam 3:35 ; 12:16 ; 1 Kings 21:27 ; Ezra 10:6 ; Nehemiah 1:4 ; Daniel 10:2 Daniel 10:3 ). Moses fasted forty days ( Exodus 24:18 ; 34:28 ), and so also did Elijah ( 1 Kings 19:8 ). Our Lord fasted forty days in the wilderness ( Matthew 4:2 ).

    In the lapse of time the practice of fasting was lamentably abused ( Isaiah 58:4 ; Jeremiah 14:12 ; Zechariah 7:5 ). Our Lord rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocritical pretences in fasting ( Matthew 6:16 ). He himself appointed no fast. The early Christians, however, observed the ordinary fasts according to the law of their fathers ( Acts 13:3 ; 14:23 ; 2 co 6:5 ).

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
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