Daniel’s Development in the King’s Court

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand and some of[fn] of the utensils of the temple of God,[fn] and he brought them to the land of Shinar to the temple of his gods, and he brought the utensils to the treasury[fn] of his gods.

3 And the king ordered[fn] Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites[fn] from the royal family[fn] and from the lords,[fn] 4 youths who have no physical defect,[fn] and who are handsome,[fn] and who are prudent[fn] in all wisdom and endowed with knowledge,[fn] and who understand insight, and who have the ability[fn] in them to serve in the palace of the king. And the king ordered him to teach them the literature and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king assigned to them his daily portion[fn] from the fine food of the king, and from the wine that he drank,[fn] and instructed that they were to be educated for three years.[fn] And at the end of their training, they were to be stationed[fn] before[fn] the king. 6 Now there was among them from the Judeans,[fn] Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 And the commander of the court officials gave them names, and he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.