Daniel 1:2-4

New International Reader's Version

²The Lord handed Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, over to him. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the objects from God’s temple. He carried them off to the temple of his god in Babylon. He put them among the treasures of his god.

³The king gave Ashpenaz an order. Ashpenaz was the chief of Nebuchadnezzar’s court officials. The king told him to bring him some of the Israelites. The king wanted them to serve him in his court. He wanted nobles and men from the royal family. ⁴He was looking for young men who were healthy and handsome. They had to be able to learn anything. They had to be well educated. They had to have the ability to understand new things quickly and easily. The king wanted men who could serve in his palace. Ashpenaz was supposed to teach them the Babylonian language and writings.

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Daniel 1:2-4

King James Version

²And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

³And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

⁴Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

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Daniel 1:2-4

New King James Version

²And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with ^(A)some of the articles of ^[a]the house of God, which he carried ^(B)into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; ^(C)and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

³Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring ^(D)some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, ⁴young men ^(E)in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and ^(F)whom they might teach the language and ^[b]literature of the Chaldeans.

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Footnotes

Daniel 1:2 The temple
Daniel 1:4 Lit. writing or book

Daniel 1:2-4

English Standard Version

²And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of ^(A)the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to ^(B)the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, ^(C)and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. ³Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, ^(D)his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family^[a] and of ^(E)the nobility, ⁴youths without ^(F)blemish, of good appearance and ^(G)skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to ^(H)teach them the literature and language of the ^(I)Chaldeans.