OET interlinear DAN 1:3

1:3a

Then: The common Hebrew conjunction that the BSB translates as Then here introduces some additional information. Introduce this information in a way that is natural in your language. Some translations, such as the GNT, do not include a connector here.

the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials: This clause introduces Ashpenaz, a new character in the story. In some languages it may be natural to introduce him in a separate sentence. For example:

The chief of the royal officials was Ashpenaz. The king ordered him…

the king: This refers to King Nebuchadnezzar. The text has previously mentioned two kings, so in some languages it may be necessary to say explicitly:

the Babylonian king

Nebuchadnezzar

the chief of his court officials: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as the chief of his court officials refers to a high official in the king’s court. The word for court officials originally referred to eunuchs (men who cannot have sexual relations). The Babylonian kings employed eunuchs to work in the palace, especially around the women of the court. But the word came to refer to any court official, and this is probably how it is used here. Other ways to translate this include:

his chief official (GNT)

the chief of staff (GW)

who was in charge of his palace officials (NLT)

1:3b

to bring in some Israelites: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as to bring in is more literally “to cause to come.”This is the same verb used in 1:2c where it describes bringing the vessels to Babylon. The king wanted his chief official to choose some Israelite men to come to his court and serve him in the government. The Hebrew text does not explicitly state where Ashpenaz was to bring the men. In some languages it may be necessary to specify a place. If that is true in your language, you may refer to the king’s palace or court. Here is another way to translate this:

to bring some of the Israelite men into his palace (NCV) Other versions specify the purpose for which the king ordered them to be brought in. For example:

to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites (NIV)

Other ways to translate this verse part include:

to select from among the Israelite exiles some young men (GNT)

to choose some of the Israelites (NET)

some Israelites: The text literally says “from the sons of Israel.” The king wanted Ashpenaz to choose a certain number of males from any of the twelve tribes of Israel. The age of these “sons of Israel” is not stated here, but the context indicates they were to be young, probably teenagers. In some languages it may be natural to specify that these Israelites were to be males. For example:

some of the Israelite men (NCV)

From the Israelites…a certain number of boys (NJB)

The text does not explicitly say if these young men were still in Jerusalem or if they were already exiles in Babylon. There are two views:

1. Ashpenaz was to select young men from among the exiles whom the army had already brought to Babylon. Some English versions add this implied information. For example:

   to select from among the Israelite exiles (GNT)

   to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family…who had been brought to Babylon as captives (NLT) (GNT, NLT, REB)

2. The king told Ashpenaz to take these young men from their homeland to the palace in Babylon. (RSV, NRSV, KJV, GW, and NCV allow for this interpretation.)

Both interpretations are acceptable. If it is natural in your language, leave it ambiguous. If you must make a choice, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1).

from the royal family and the nobility: This phrase describes the kind of Israelites the king wanted Ashpenaz to bring to the king’s palace. The king told Ashpenaz to take young men from two groups: from the royal family of Judah and from the other important families. Other ways to translate this include:

of the royal family and of the noble families (GNT)

who were of royal and noble descent (NET)

In some languages the royal family may be considered part of the nobility. In those languages you may need to say something like:

from important families, including the family of the king of Judah (NCV)

of Judah’s royal family and other noble families (NLT)

the royal family: Ashpenaz was to choose young men who were members of the royal family of Judah. That is, he was to choose those who were closely related to the king of Judah. Some versions make it explicit that the reference is to the royal family of Judah. For example:

from the royal family of Judah (CEV)

the nobility: This refers to families of high status among the people of Judah. Other ways to translate this include:

leading Jewish families (CEV)

important families (NCV)

the clans of the elders