² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried^(A) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia^[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.^(B)

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility^(C)— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(D) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(E) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(F) and literature of the Babylonians.^[b]