Exiles selected

3Then the king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the sons of Israel, both from the royal offspring and from the nobles,

4young men in whom there was no defect at all, good in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, knowledgeable in learning, discerning in understanding, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5And the king assigned to them a daily portion from the king’s food and from the wine he drank, and to bring them up for three years; and at the end of them they were to stand before the king.

6And among them, from the sons of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah the name Shadrach, Mishael the name Meshach, and Azariah the name Abed-nego.