1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoyakim the king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave up into his hand Yehoyakim the king of Judah, with part of the vessels of the house of God: and he brought them into the land of Shinar into the house of his god, namely, he brought the vessels into the treasurehouse of his god.

3 And the king said unto Ashpenas, the chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring out of the children of Israel, and of the royal seed, and of the nobles,

4 Certain lads in whom there should be no kind of blemish, but who should be handsome in appearance, and intelligent in all wisdom, and acquainted with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as should have the ability to serve in the kings palace, and that these should be taught the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king ordered for them a daily provision for its day of the kings food, and of the wine which he drank, and to educate them three years, so that at the end thereof they should serve before the king.

6 Now there were among these of the children of Judah, Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah.