Daniel 1:1–7

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim^a king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar^b king of Babylon^c came to Jerusalem and besieged it.^d And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried^e off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.^f

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility^g— young men without any physical defect, handsome,^h showing aptitude for every kind of learning,ⁱ well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^j and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine^k from the king’s table.^l They were to be trained for three years,^m and after that they were to enter the king’s service.ⁿ

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,^o Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^p The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;^q to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.^r