Discovery BoxDaniel 10:3 
Context10:3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine came to my lips, 1 nor did I anoint myself with oil 2 until the end of those three weeks.
Daniel 10:12
Context10:12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind 3 to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.
1 tn Heb “mouth.”
2 sn Anointing oneself with oil (usually olive oil) was a common OT practice due to the severity of the Middle Eastern sun (cf. Ps 121:6). It was also associated with rejoicing (e.g., Prov 27:9) and was therefore usually not practiced during a period of mourning.
3 tn Heb “gave your heart.”
