Daniel 1:1-4

1In the third year of the reign of 1Jehoiakim king of Judah, 2Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the 3Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him, along with some of the 4vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of 5Shinar, to the house of his 6god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his 78god.

3Then the king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his 9officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the 10royal 11family and of the nobles, 4youths in whom there was 12no impairment, who were good-looking, suitable for 13instruction in every kind of expertise, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to 14serve in the king’s 15court; and he ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the 16literature and 17language of the 18Chaldeans.