The Israelites Confess Their Sins

9 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.^(A)

² So on the first day of the seventh month^(A) Ezra the priest brought the Law^(B) before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.

²³ So we fasted^(A) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes^(A) and fell facedown^(B) to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening.^(C) The elders of Israel^(D) did the same, and sprinkled dust^(E) on their heads.

² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(A) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(B) to which I have called them.”^{(C) 3} So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them^(D) and sent them off.^(E)

Death of Eli

¹² That same day a Benjamite^(A) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust^(B) on his head.

⁵ The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.^(A)

⁶ When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.^{(B) 7} This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

A Call to Lamentation