³ And the king ordered^[a] Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites^[b] from the royal family^[c] and from the lords,^{[d] 4} youths who have no physical defect,^[e] and who are handsome,^[f] and who are prudent^[g] in all wisdom and endowed with knowledge,^[h] and who understand insight, and who have the ability^[i] in them to serve in the palace of the king. And the king ordered him to teach them the literature and the language of the Chaldeans. ⁵ And the king assigned to them his daily portion^[j] from the fine food of the king, and from the wine that he drank,^[k] and instructed that they were to be educated for three years.^[l] And at the end of their training, they were to be stationed^[m] before^[n] the king.