A: This was not commanded anywhere in the Old Testament; they decided to do this on their own, to mourn the loss of their temple and their land. God did not say fasting in general was wrong, but He was displeased that they were focusing on their loss of the temple instead of getting right with Him. Sometimes we can be more focused on either God's work, or what we have lost, than on drawing nearer to God. God did not say their actions were wrong, but their priorities were.
J: Jambo hili halikuagizwa sehemu yeyote ile kwenye Agano la Kale; watu waliamua kufanya hivi kwa hiari yao wenyewe, ili kuombolezea hasara ya kutokuwa na hekalu na nchi. Mungu hakusema kuwa kufunga ni kubaya kwa ujumla, lakini hakufurahishwa kuwa waliangalia zaidi kukosa hekalu badala ya kujiweka sawa na Mungu. Wakati mwingine tunaweza kuangalia zaidi ama kazi ya Mungu, ama vitu tulivyopoteza, kuliko kumsogelea Mungu zaidi. Mungu hakusema kuwa matendo yao yalikuwa mabaya, lakini vipaumbele vyao havikuwa sawa.