I. ANNUAL NATIONAL FASTS.
I. The fast of the fourth month (1V1j) 11r311), which is kept on the 17th of Tal7111; be cause—T. On this day the Jews made the Golden Calf; 2. Moses broke the tables of the Law, as appears from a comparison of Exod. xxiv. with xxxii.; 3. On it the daily sacrifices ceased for want of cattle, ;when the city was closely besieged; and 4. On it Jerusalem was stormed by Nebuchadnez zar, comp. Zech. viii. 19; Jer. lii.; Mislina Taanith, iv. 6 ; St. Jerome on Zech. viii. 19.
2. The fast of the fifth month (nNn nytm), which is kept on the gth of AL, because—z. On this day God decreed that those who left Egypt should not enter the Land of Promise (Num. xiv. 27, etc.); 2. On it the first temple was de stroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and the second by Titus ; 3. On it the city of Bethar was taken by the Emperor Adrian, and 580,o0o Jews were massacred ; and 4. On it the site of Jerusalem was ploughed up like a field, as predicted by Jer. xxvi. T8, comp. Zech. vii. 3, 4 ; viii. ; Mishna Taanith, iv. 6; St. Jerome on Zech. viii. 19; Jost, Geschichte d. Israel/ten, p. 24o.
3. The fist of the seventh month (r6-1.1 CV), vii. 5; which is kept on the 3d of TIshri, to be wail the murder of Gedaliah at Mizpah, comp. Zech. vii. 5 ; viii. 19 ; Jer. xli. ff. ; 2 Kings xxv. 25; Seder Olam Rabba, c. xxvi.; Megillath Taanith c. xii.
4. The fast of the tenth month (rInt.n comp. Zech. viii. 19, which is kept on the Toth of Tekth, to commemorate the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, which took place on this day ; comp. Zech. viii. ; 2 Kings x.xv. T. These four fasts have been Christianized ; and tradition tells us that their transfer into the Christian Church was made by the Roman Bishop Callistus (ft. 223). To deprive them, however, of their Jewish appearance, the whole year was divided into four seasons ((planar tempora), and a fast was appointed for one week of each season ; comp. Herzog, Real.-Encyklop., p. 336.
5. The fast of Esther (nrot.:,- nwro, which is kept on the T3th of Adar ; comp. Esther iv. 16, ; ix. 31. [ESTHER, FAST OF.]