(1) В¶ Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. (2) And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
This fast seems to have been appointed with a view to implore the pardon of God for the mingling with the idolatrous nations of the earth. And as the law, that enjoined them not to make intermarriages, was evidently with an eye to the promised seed in Jesus, this fast must be considered more particularly as a solemn ordinance of faith.