Daniel shifts to a personal, first-person account of a period marked by deep sadness and self-imposed affliction. The primary approach among commentators connects his grief to the historical events of the era, specifically the destruction and its ongoing consequences [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. More precisely, Daniel mourned the decision of King Cyrus to retract his permission to rebuild the Second Temple, a reversal prompted by malicious letters sent by the enemies of Judah [רש"י, מצודת דוד]. Others suggest his sadness stemmed from a difficult prophetic vision that hinted at a prolonged exile [מצודת דוד]. Alternatively, this period of mourning was a proactive process of spiritual preparation rather than just a reaction to tragic events. By denying himself physical pleasures like fine bread, meat, wine, and sleep, Daniel sought to subdue his physical nature and elevate his divine soul. This discipline prepared him to receive prophecy without earthly distractions [יוסף אבן יחיא].
Daniel maintained this state for three full weeks. The generally accepted view understands this timeframe literally as twenty-one days [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This literal interpretation presents a unique situation, as it occurred during the month of Nissan, implying that Daniel abstained from wine and afflicted himself even during the holiday of Passover. This twenty-one-day delay corresponds exactly to the time an angel spent battling the spiritual prince of the Persian empire, a conflict that prevented the angel from reaching Daniel until the twenty-fourth day of the month [אבן עזרא].
Beyond the literal twenty-one days, the three weeks are also viewed symbolically as a hint to the three empires destined to rule over Israel [מלבי"ם]. A completely different approach suggests that the timeframe refers to weeks of years, translating to twenty-one years of mourning. These years largely align with the era spanning from the beginning of the reign of Darius the Mede until the second year of Darius the Persian, the time when the Temple was finally rebuilt [רש"י].