בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ לְמַלְכוּת יְהוֹיָקִים מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה בָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל יְרוּשָׁלִַם וַיָּצַר עָלֶיהָ

In the third year of the reign of Yehoyakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. This probably refers to the Babylonians’ initial subjugation of Judah as part of their suppression of Egyptian influence in the entire area (see II Kings 23–24).

וַיִּתֵּן אֲדֹנָי בְּיָדוֹ אֶת־יְהוֹיָקִים מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה ומִקְצָת כְּלֵי בֵית־הָאֱלֹהִים וַיְבִיאֵם אֶרֶץ־שִׁנְעָר בֵּית אֱלֹהָיו וְאֶת־הַכֵּלִים הֵבִיא בֵּית אוֹצַר אֱלֹהָיו

The Lord delivered Yehoyakim king of Judah into his hand with some of the vessels of the House of God. At this stage, Nebuchadnezzar had not yet breached the city to fully conquer it. Nevertheless, the king of Judah submitted to him, bribing him with Temple vessels, and therefore Nebuchadnezzar allowed him to continue his rule in Judah. And he brought them, the vessels, to the land of Shinar, Babylon, to the temple of his god, and he brought the vessels to the treasure-house of his god.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְאַשְׁפְּנַז רַב סָרִיסָיו לְהָבִיא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִזֶּרַע הַמְּלוּכָה וּמִן־הַפַּרְתְּמִים

The king said to Ashpenaz chief of his chamberlains, the supervisor over the king’s other officials, to bring from the children of Israel and from the royal offspring and from the nobles, the best families of Judah,

יְלָדִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין־בָּהֶם כָּל־מאוּם וְטוֹבֵי מַרְאֶה וּמַשְׂכִּלִים בְּכָל־חָכְמָה וְיֹדְעֵי דַעַת וּמְבִינֵי מַדָּע וַאֲשֶׁר כֹּחַ בָּהֶם לַעֲמֹד בְּהֵיכַל הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְלַמְּדָם סֵפֶר וּלְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים

youths in whom there was no blemish, and who were handsome, and skillful in all wisdom, knowledgeable and perceptive. Nebuchadnezzar sought the most handsome, talented, and intelligent youths, who would have the ability to stand in the king’s palace. A position in the king’s palace imposed great responsibility, and therefore required both physical and psychological strength. And as the king did not intend to train them as ordinary officers, but instead wanted them to be part of his senior administration, he decided to teach them the writing and speech of the Chaldeans.

וַיְמַן לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ מִפַּת־בַּג הַמֶּלֶךְ וּמִיֵּין מִשְׁתָּיו ולְגַדְּלָם שָׁנִים שָׁלוֹשׁ וּמִקְצָתָם יַעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

The king allotted for them each day’s fixed portion on its day, from the king’s food, bread, or meat, and from the wine of his drink. The youths received portions from the food and wine of the royal household, and the king gave instructions to raise them, that they be cared for in his palace, for three years.Since they were foreigners their education required time, as merely learning to read and speak in the Chaldean language was not easy. In order that they would be ready for their complex roles, these talented youths underwent professional training. They were constantly tested by their overseers, and at the end of the three years the select of them, the best and most successful, would stand before the king.

וַיְהִי בָהֶם מִבְּנֵי יְהוּדָה דָּנִיֵּאל חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה

Nebuchadnezzar likely took youths from other nations, and perhaps also Jewish youths from different regions of Israel. Among them from the children of Judah, from those Jewish youths whom they considered capable for the task, were chosen Daniel, Hananya, Mishael, and Azarya.

וַיָּשֶׂם לָהֶם שַׂר הַסָּרִיסִים שֵׁמוֹת וַיָּשֶׂם לְדָנִיֵּאל בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר וְלַחֲנַנְיָה שַׁדְרַךְ וּלְמִישָׁאֵל מֵישַׁךְ וְלַעֲזַרְיָה עֲבֵד נְגוֹ

The chief of the chamberlains gave them new names. The Chaldean king and officers did not care to pronounce foreign names, especially as the youths’ Hebrew names had no meaning in Chaldean. Therefore, they were given new Babylonian names. Changing someone’s name to one from the local language when he began royal service was practiced in other eras as well. To Daniel he gave the name Beltshatzar, based on the name of the chief god of Babylon, Baal, pronounced Bel in Babylonian. And to Hananya, he gave the name Shadrakh, and to Mishael, Meshakh, and to Azarya, Aved Nego, which means worshipper of Nego, possibly the Babylonian god Nabu. Since Daniel was the most gifted of the four, he was given the most distinguished name.

וַיָּשֶׂם דָּנִיֵּאל עַל־לִבּוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִתְגָּאַל בְּפַת־בַּג הַמֶּלֶךְ וּבְיֵין מִשְׁתָּיו וַיְבַקֵּשׁ מִשַּׂר הַסָּרִיסִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִתְגָּאָל

Daniel was apparently the leader and spokesman for the group, the one who would take the initiative, and perhaps the oldest as well. Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not taint himself with the king’s food and with the wine of his drink, because they were not kosher. It can be assumed that they were given meat, which was certainly prohibited to Jews, and possibly rodents, insects, and other forbidden foods. And therefore he requested from the chief of the chamberlains that he be allowed not to taint himself by eating that food and wine.

וַיִּתֵּן הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת־דָּנִיֵּאל לְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי שַׂר הַסָּרִיסִים

The chief officer was not supposed to attend to such a request. After all, there were many youths in his care, and he could not possibly accommodate the dietary preferences of each and every one of them. Furthermore, it was not even his decision to make. And yet, God granted Daniel kindness and compassion before the chief of the chamberlains. Daniel had made a favorable impression on the chamberlain, and he took the request seriously.

וַיֹּאמֶר שַׂר הַסָּרִיסִים לְדָנִיֵּאל יָרֵא אֲנִי אֶת־אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר מִנָּה אֶת־מַאֲכַלְכֶם וְאֶת־מִשְׁתֵּיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה אֶת־פְּנֵיכֶם זֹעֲפִים מִן־הַיְלָדִים אֲשֶׁר כְּגִילְכֶם וְחִיַּבְתֶּם אֶת־רֹאשִׁי לַמֶּלֶךְ

The chief of the chamberlains said to Daniel: I am prepared to grant your request, but I fear my lord the king, who allotted your food and your drink. I, too, have supervisors, whom I fear, and I am also concerned about the possible intervention of the king himself. For why should he see your faces distressed more than the youths who are your contemporaries? If you do not eat the king’s food, you will appear gaunt, and less satisfied than the youths who eat all the food. If the king notices that you do not look well, you would have my head, i.e., me, liable to the king. The king will execute me on your account, as I am responsible not only for your behavior and education but also for your physical well-being.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּנִיֵּאל אֶל־הַמֶּלְצַר אֲשֶׁר מִנָּה שַׂר הַסָּרִיסִים עַל־דָּנִיֵּאל חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה

The chamberlain explained his hesitancy, while not completely denying the request. Daniel therefore said to the attendant, the man in charge of serving the food, whom the chief of the chamberlains had appointed over Daniel, Hananya, Mishael, and Azarya:

נַס נָא אֶת־עֲבָדֶיךָ יָמִים עֲשָׂרָה וְיִתְּנוּ־לָנוּ מִן־הַזֵּרֹעִים וְנֹאכְלָה וּמַיִם וְנִשְׁתֶּה

Please, test your servants, ourselves, for ten days; let them give us some vegetables, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, and we will eat, and water and we will drink. The king’s meat and wine were almost certainly prohibited for consumption, but seeds and vegetables were kosher.

ויֵרָאוּ לְפָנֶיךָ מַרְאֵינוּ וּמַרְאֵה הַיְלָדִים הָאֹכְלִים אֵת פַּת־בַּג הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכַאֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֵה עֲשֵׂה עִם־עֲבָדֶיךָ

And our appearance and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s food will be seen before you. You can then compare our appearance to that of the other youths, and as you will see fit to do, do with your servants. Try this as an experiment, which will last several days, and then you can decide how to proceed.

וַיִּשְׁמַע לָהֶם לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיְנַסֵּם יָמִים עֲשָׂרָה

He, the attendant, heeded them in this matter, and he tested them for ten days.

וּמִקְצָת יָמִים עֲשָׂרָה נִרְאָה מַרְאֵיהֶם טוֹב וּבְרִיאֵי בָּשָׂר מִן־כָּל־הַיְלָדִים הָאֹכְלִים אֵת פַּת־בַּג הַמֶּלֶךְ

At the end of ten days it turned out that not only were Daniel and the other youths not sickly, and no thinner in appearance than the others, but their appearance was better and plumper than all the youths who were eating the king’s food.

וַיְהִי הַמֶּלְצַר נֹשֵׂא אֶת־פַּת־בָּגָם וְיֵין מִשְׁתֵּיהֶם וְנֹתֵן לָהֶם זֵרְעֹנִים

Upon seeing this result, the attendant would take their food and the wine for their drink, to be used for some other purpose. It would make sense that plenty of people would consider it a privilege to eat the king’s food, and even to pay for it. And instead of giving Daniel and the other youths their standard portions of food, the attendant would give them vegetables. It is possible the attendant was not acting in a completely lawful manner. In any case, he would not have wanted this arrangement to become known.

וְהַיְלָדִים הָאֵלֶּה אַרְבַּעְתָּם נָתַן לָהֶם הָאֱלֹהִים מַדָּע וְהַשְׂכֵּל בְּכָל־סֵפֶר וְחָכְמָה וְדָנִיֵּאל הֵבִין בְּכָל־חָזוֹן וַחֲלֹמוֹת

Employing youths with fine appearances was only one element of the king’s intent. This training period was mainly set aside for them to develop their education and learn how to deport themselves in a way that would reflect their court status. These youths, the four of them, God granted them knowledge and perception in all writings and wisdom. They learned to comprehend all kinds of books, and acquired various forms of knowledge. The king wanted them to be the wisest in the kingdom, so that he could use them as a kind of council for advice and leadership. And in addition to his knowledge and perception, Daniel also had understanding in all visions and dreams.

וּלְמִקְצָת הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר־אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לַהֲבִיאָם וַיְבִיאֵם שַׂר הַסָּרִיסִים לִפְנֵי נְבֻכַדְנֶצַּר

At the end of the days that the king had said to bring them, once they had finished their set training period, the chief of the chamberlains brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

וַיְדַבֵּר אִתָּם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְלֹא נִמְצָא מִכֻּלָּם כְּדָנִיֵּאל חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה וַיַּעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

The king spoke with them, all the youths from the different lands who had gone through this training process, and among all of them none was found with outstanding qualities comparable to Daniel, Hananya, Mishael, and Azarya, and they stood before the king to serve him.

וְכֹל דְּבַר חָכְמַת בִּינָה אֲשֶׁר־בִּקֵּשׁ מֵהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּמְצָאֵם עֶשֶׂר יָדוֹת עַל כָּל־הַחַרְטֻמִּים הָאַשָּׁפִים אֲשֶׁר בְּכָל־מַלְכוּתוֹ

In any matter of wisdom or understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in his entire realm.

וַיְהִי דָּנִיֵּאל עַד־שְׁנַת אַחַת לְכוֹרֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ

Daniel was there, and continued to serve as a member of the king’s council, not just during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign but during those of his son and his grandson as well, until the first year of King Cyrus, the Persian ruler during whose reign the Babylonian Empire collapsed and was superseded by the Persian Empire. The Persian attitude toward the Jews differed greatly from that of Babylonia.