⁴ young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.^(A)

¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.^[a] In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners,^[b](A)

²² So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.^(A)

David Forgives Absalom

²⁵ Now in all Israel there was no one to be praised so much for his beauty as Absalom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.^(A)

¹⁰ The Chaldeans answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact, no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.^(A)

¹⁸ At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, ¹⁹ and the king spoke with them. Among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court.^{(B) 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 in his whole kingdom.^(C)

¹⁹ Anyone who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return: ²⁰ fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; the injury inflicted is the injury to be suffered.^(A)

¹⁸ Indeed, no one who has a blemish shall draw near, one who is blind or lame, or one who is mutilated or deformed,^{[a](A) 19} or one who has a broken foot or a broken hand, ²⁰ or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or a man with a defect in his eyes or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles.^{(B) 21} No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire;^[b] since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.^(C)

²⁰ At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house,