The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Daniel 01
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king
of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 The Lord† gave Jehoiakim king ofJudah
into his hand, with some of the vessels of
the house of God;‡ and he carried them
into the land of Shinar to the house of
his god. He brought the vessels into the
treasure house of his god.
3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master
of his eunuchs, that he should bring in
some of the children of Israel, even of the
royal offspring§ and of the nobles:
4 youths in whom was no defect, but
well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endowed
with knowledge, understanding science, and who
had the ability to stand in the king’s palace;
and that he should teach them the learning
and the language of the Chaldeans.
5 The king appointed for them a daily
portion of the king’s delicacies and of the
wine which he drank, and that they should
be nourished three years, that at its end
they should stand before the king.
6 Now among these of the children of Judah
were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah.
7 The prince of the eunuchs gave names
to them: to Daniel he gave the name
Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to
Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that
he would not defile himself with the king’s
delicacies, nor with the wine which he
drank. Therefore he requested of the
prince of the eunuchs that he might not
defile himself.
9 Now God made Daniel find kindness
and compassion in the sight of the prince
of the eunuchs.
10 The prince of the eunuchs said to
Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has
appointed your food and your drink. For
why should he see your faces worse looking
than the youths who are of your own
age? Then you would endanger my head
with the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom
the prince of the eunuchs had appointed
over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah:
12 “Test your servants, I beg you, ten
days; and let them give us vegetables to eat
and water to drink.
13 Then let our faces be examined before
you, and the face of the youths who eat of
the king’s delicacies; and as you see, deal
with your servants.”
14 So he listened to them in this matter,
and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of ten days, their faces
appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh
than all the youths who ate of the king’s
delicacies.
16 So the steward took away their delicacies
and the wine that they were given to
drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 Now as for these four youths, God gave
them knowledge and skill in all learning
and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding
in all visions and dreams.
18 At the end of the days which the king
had appointed for bringing them in, the
prince of the eunuchs brought them in
before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 The king talked with them; and among
them all was found no one like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Therefore stood they before the king.
20 In every matter of wisdom and
understanding concerning which the king
inquired of them, he found them ten
times better than all the magicians and
enchanters who were in all his realm.
21 Daniel continued even to the first year
of King Cyrus.