1. In the third year of the reign of Yehoiakim Melech Yehudah came Nevuchadnetzar king of Babylon unto Yerushalayim, and besieged it.
2. And Hashem gave Yehoiakim Melech Yehudah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the Beis HaElohim; which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his g-d; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his g-d.
3. And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the Bnei Yisroel, and of the king's zera (seed), and of the princes,
4. Yeladim in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all chochmah (wisdom), and cunning in da'as (knowledge), and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the heikhal hamelech (king's palace), and whom they might teach the sefer and lashon of the Kasdim (Chaldeans).
5. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's food, and of the yayin which he drank, so nourishing them shanim shalosh (three years), that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6. Now among these were of the Bnei Yehudah, Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah;
7. Unto whom the chief of the eunuchs gave names; for he gave unto Daniel the name of Beltshatzar; and to Chananyah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azaryah, of Abednego.
8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the yayin which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9. Now G-d had brought Daniel into chesed and sympathy with the chief of the eunuchs.