Daniel 1:1-7 - Daniel's Development In The King's Court
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it: 2 and the LORD delivered Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand, with certain ornaments of the house of God, which he carried away into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and there brought them into his god's treasury.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the chief chamberlain, that he should bring him certain of the children of Israel, that were come of the king's seed and of princes, 4 young springaldes without any blemish, but fair and well favored, instructed in all wisdom, cunning and understanding: which were able to stand in the king's palace, to read and to learn for to speak Chaldeish. 5 Unto these, the king appointed a certain portion of his own meat, and of the wine which he drank himself, so to nourish them three years: that afterward they might stand before the king. 6 Among these now were certain of the children of Judah: namely Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 Unto these the chief chamberlain gave other names, and called Daniel, Balteshazzar; Hananiah, Shadrach; Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.