Ashpenaz

3The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the leader of his palace helpers. He told him to bring in some young men from Israel. They were to come from the king's family and from other important families.

And 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;

NoteThe King James calls these helpers "eunuchs." They were men who worked close to the king inside his palace.

4They had to be young men with healthy, strong bodies and pleasant faces. They had to be smart, full of knowledge, and quick to learn. They had to be ready to work in the king's palace. Then they would be taught the writing and language of the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon.

Children 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.

Note"Well favoured" means good-looking. "Cunning in knowledge" does not mean sneaky here. In 1611 "cunning" meant clever and skilled.

5Every day the king sent them food and wine from his own table. They would be trained this way for three years. After that they would come and serve the king.

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

NoteThe king's food was the best food in the land. Eating it meant you belonged to the king now.

6Four of these young men came from Judah. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7The leader of the palace helpers gave them new names. He called Daniel by the name Belteshazzar. He called Hananiah by the name Shadrach. He called Mishael by the name Meshach. He called Azariah by the name Abednego.

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

NoteTheir old names each said something about God. The new names came from the gods of Babylon. Changing a name was a way of saying, you are ours now.