The Siege of Jerusalem
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God. He brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
The King's Command
Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs , to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility—
young men without any physical defect, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and understanding science in the king's palace. He was to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
The king assigned them a daily portion of the king's delicacies and the wine he drank. They were to be so nourished for three years, and at the end of that time, they were to stand before the king.
The Selection of Daniel and His Companions
Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the tribe of Judah.
The Master of Eunuchs gave them new names: to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Daniel's Resolve
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's delicacies or the wine which he drank. Therefore, he asked the Master of Eunuchs for permission not to defile himself.
God's Favor on Daniel
Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief official.
The chief official said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? You would endanger my head with the king.”
The Test of Faith
Then Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the king's delicacies, and treat your servants according to what you see.”
So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of ten days, their appearance was better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king's delicacies.
Thus the guard continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
God's Blessing on the Young Men
To these four young men, God gave knowledge and understanding in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had insight into all visions and dreams.
Daniel and His Companions Presented to the King
At the end of the time specified by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
The king communed with them, and among all of them no one was found to be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king's service.
The Wisdom of Daniel and His Companions
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in all his realm.
Daniel's Longevity in Service
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus.
make the following changes keep- vs. 3 "master his eunuchs", vs. 4 "understanding science", vs. 5 "so nourishing them", vs. 7 "prince of eunuchs", vs. 8 "purposed", "prince of the eunuchs" vs 17 "all learning" vs 19 "communed", vs. 20 "realm" , vs 21 "And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.”