Daniel 1

Daniel and His Friends

1 *2 K 24.1;2 Ch 36.5-7.In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah,*1.1 Jehoiakim … king of Judah: Ruled 609–598 b.c. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia attacked Jerusalem. 2 *2 K 20.17,18;24.10-16;2 Ch 36.10;Is 39.7,8.The Lord let Nebuchadnezzar capture Jehoiakim and take away some of the things used in God’s temple. And when the king returned to Babylonia,*1.2 Babylonia: The Hebrew text has "Shinar," another name for Babylonia. he put these things in the temple of his own god.

3 One day the king ordered Ashpenaz, his highest palace official, to choose some young men from the royal family of Judah and from other leading Jewish families. 4 The king said, "They must be healthy, handsome, smart, wise, educated, and fit to serve in the royal palace. Teach them how to speak and write our language 5 and give them the same food and wine that I am served. Train them for three years, and then they can become court officials."

6 Four of the young Jews chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all from the tribe of Judah.