IV. Fasting in the Bible. The Old testament

4.6. Fasting and Danger of War

“The message was brought to Jehoshaphat: ‘A great multitude is coming against you from across the sea, from Edom; they are already in Hazazontamar’ (which is Engedi.) Johoshaphat was frightened, and he hastened to consult the Lord. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah. Then Judah gathered to seek help from the Lord; from everyone of the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” (2 Chr 20,2-4)

“The altar, to, they draped in sackcloth; and with one accord they cried out fervently to the God of Israel not to allow their children to be seized, their wives to be taken captive, the cities of their inheritance to be ruined, or the sanctuary to be profaned and mocked for the nations to gloat over.

The Lord heard their cry and had regard for their distress. For the people observed a fast of many days’ duration throughout Judea, and before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem.” (Jdt 4,12-13)

“The assembly gathered together to prepare for battle and to pray and implore mercy and compassion. …That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes.” (1 Mc 3,44-47)

“When Judas Learned of this, he urged the people to call upon the Lord night and day, to help them now, if ever, when they were about to be deprived of their law, their country, and their holy temple; and not to allow this nation, which had just begun to revive, to be subjected again to blasphemous Gentiles. When they had all joined in doing this, and had implored the merciful Lord continuously with weeping and fasting and prostrations for three days, Judas encouraged them and told them to stand ready.” (2 Mc 13,10-12)

“Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, ‘Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,’ when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: ‘Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall the drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.’” (Jon 3. 4-9)