Daniel in the King's Court

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and carried away vessels from the house of God to the land of Shinar. The king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring certain children of Israel from the king's seed and the princes who possessed no blemish and were well-favored. These youths were to be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans for three years (Daniel 1:3-5). Among these individuals were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to whom the prince of the eunuchs gave the names Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat or the wine which the king drank. Although the prince of the eunuchs feared the king would find the youths looking worse than their peers, Daniel requested a ten-day test of pulse and water. After the ten days, their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children who ate the portion of the king's meat (Daniel 1:12-15). Consequently, the steward took away their meat and wine and gave them pulse instead. God gave these four youths knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

At the end of the days that the king had appointed, Ashpenaz brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king communed with them, and among all the youths, none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore, they stood before the king (Daniel 1:18-19). In all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. The text does not say the specific age of the participants or the exact content of the Chaldean curriculum. Daniel continued until the first year of king Cyrus.