And the LordgaveJehoiakimking of Judahinto his hand, withpart of the vessels of the house of God: which he carriedinto the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vesselsinto the treasurehouse of his god.
And the kingspakeuntoAshpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he shouldbringcertain of the children of Israel, and of the king’sseed, and of the princes;
Children in whom was no blemish, but wellfavoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understandingscience, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’spalace, and whomtheymightteach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
And the kingappointedthem a dailyprovision of the king’smeat, and of the winewhich he drank: so nourishingthemthreeyears, that at the end thereoftheymightstandbefore the king.
Untowhom the prince of the eunuchsgavenames: for he gaveuntoDaniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
But Danielpurposed in his heartthat he would not defilehimselfwith the portion of the king’smeat, nor with the winewhich he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchsthat he might not defilehimself.
And the prince of the eunuchssaiduntoDaniel, I fear my lord the king, who hathappointedyourmeat and yourdrink: for why should he see yourfacesworselikingthan the childrenwhich are of yoursort? thenshall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
Then let our countenances be lookeduponbeforethee, and the countenance of the childrenthat eat of the portion of the king’smeat: and as thouseest, dealwith thy servants.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the kingenquired of them, he foundthem ten timesbetterthan all the magicians and astrologersthatwere in all his realm.