Daniel 1:1-5
International Standard Version
Hostages of the Babylonian Captivity
1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. 2 Within a week, the Lord handed King Jehoiakim of Judah over to him, along with valuable objects from the house of God. Nebuchadnezzar[a] brought them to the temple of his god in the land of Shinar[b] and stored them[c] in its treasure house.[d]
3 Later, the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief officer,[e] to bring in some Israelis of royal and noble descent. 4 They were to be young men without physical defect, handsome in appearance, skilled in all wisdom, quick to learn, prudent in how they used knowledge, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. They were to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans.[f]
5 The king assigned them fine food and choice wine on a daily basis, ordering them to be trained for three years, at the end of which time they would enter the king’s service.[g]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 1:2 Lit. He
- Daniel 1:2 I.e. Babylon
- Daniel 1:2 Lit. the valuable objects
- Daniel 1:2 Lit. in the treasure house of his god
- Daniel 1:3 Lit. eunuch; i.e. an overseer in the king’s court; and so throughout the chapter
- Daniel 1:4 I.e. wise men and royal counselors from Mesopotamia who spoke the Babylonian Akkadian language and Aramaic; or magi-astrologers; and so throughout the book; cf. Jer. 5:15, Matt 2:1
- Daniel 1:5 Lit. would stand before the king
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
