The Fasts of the Months!

These are Ordained days of Fasting for specific months throughout the year! Unlike the Fast of the Day of Atonement, these Fasts are Not Sabbaths, however, they are Very important and are to be observed. They are the Fast of the Fourth (4th) month, the Fifth (5th) month, the Seventh (7th) month, and the Tenth (10th) month. We are to Fast from sunrise to sunset with the Exception of the Day of Atonement which is Ordained from sunset to sunset.

***Scriptural Reference:

Zechariah 8:18-19 — Vs. 18. And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, 19. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The Fast of the Fourth month, and the Fast of the Fifth, and the Fast of the Seventh, and the Fast of the Tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful Feasts; therefore love the Truth and Peace.

The 4th Month & Scriptural Support:

 ***The Fast of the 4th month pertains to the great Famine in the land – We are to fast from sunrise to sunset in remembrance of the great famine (dearth) upon our people during the take down (siege) of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadrezzer.

Jeremiah 52:6 — And in the Fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore (severe) in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. 

2nd Kings 25:3 — And on the ninth day of the Fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 

The 5th Month & Scriptural Support:

***The Fast of the 5th month pertains to the destruction of Jerusalem – We are to fast from sunrise to sunset in remembrance of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem including the Holy Temple, the Walls, and the carrying away of our people and becoming a spoil to the king of Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:12-30 — Vs. 12. Now in the Fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, 13. And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire: 14. And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. 15. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. 16…+ 

The 7th Month & Scriptural Support:

***The Fasts of the 7th month pertains to the Day of Atonement as well as the Assassination of Governor Gedaliah – We are to fast from sunset to sunset for the Day of Atonement to afflict our souls unto the Most HIGH. In regard to the memorial of Governor Gedaliah including the other brothers who were murdered along with him, unfortunately, the scriptures did not reference the day when this horrific event had occurred; however, it did occur during the time of the Babylonian Siege on Jerusalem in the seventh month. Nevertheless, you can still select a day in the 7th month to put in a fast from sunrise to sunset for what had happened to our brothers.

Leviticus 23:26-32 — Vs. 26. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27. Also on the tenth day of this Seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement: it shall be an Holy Convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a Day of Atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32. It shall be unto you a Sabbath rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even (between the evenings of the 9th & 10th day), shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.

Jeremiah 41:1-3 — Vs. 1. Now it came to pass in the Seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. 2. Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. 

 The 10th Month & Scriptural Support:

***The Fast of the 10th month pertains to the Siege upon the city of Jerusalem – We are to fast from sunrise to sunset in remembrance of the conquering of our land by the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 39:1 — In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 

Jeremiah 52:4-5 — Vs. 4. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. 5. So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 

These are two Precepts from 2nd Samuel confirming a Fast from Sunrise to Sunset:

2nd Samuel 1:11-12 — Vs. 11. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

2nd Samuel 3:35 — And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. 

*******Zechariah 7:1-5 & 8:18-19*******

Zechariah 7:1-5 — Vs. 1. And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; 2. When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD, 3. And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? 4. Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, 5. Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto Me, even to Me? This testimony shows us that the children of Israel observed the Fasts of the months in the Babylonian captivity and also when they came out of that captivity and living in the land of Judah (Judaea - Southern Israel)!

Zechariah 8:18-19. — Vs. 18. And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, 19. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The Fast of the Fourth month, and the Fast of the Fifth, and the Fast of the Seventh, and the Fast of the Tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the Truth and Peace.

To view the days of fasting, please reference our Calendar from the Holy Day Calendar Tab under the Title: Israel’s Holy 364 Day Calendar Downloadable Links!