I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Ver. 3. I ate no pleasant bread.] Bread he ate, for animantis cuiusque vita in fuga est, life will fail if not maintained by food, but coarse bread panem cibarium, atrum, et siligineum, and no more of that either than needs must. He voluntarily abridged himself of lawful delights, macerating and mortifying his flesh, that he might communicate with his poor afflicted brethren, and pray the harder for them. Fasting inflameth prayer, and prayer sanctifieth fasting.
Neither did I anoint myself at all.] All delights of sense must be laid aside in a time of solemn humiliation, but yet without annoyance and uncomeliness, as music, mirth, perfumes, brave apparel; 2Sa 12:20 Joh 3:8 Exodus 33:4,6 1Ki 21:27 cheerfulness, outward joy, and pleasure (Mar 2:20 Luk 5:35 cf. Mat 9:15 Judges 20:26 1Sa 7:6). It is spoken of as a foul sin; Isaiah 58:3, "Behold in the day of your fast ye find pleasure."