Four Boys in Babylon

KING Neb-u-chad-nez'zar  takes all the best educated Israelites away to Babylon. Afterward the king chooses from among the most handsome and smartest young men.  One of these is Daniel, and the other three the Babylonians called Sha'drach, Me'sach and A-bed'ne-go. 

Neb-u-chad-nez'zar plans to train the young men to serve in his palace. After three years of training he will choose only the smartest ones to help him solve problems.  The king wants the boys  to be strong and healthy while they are being trained. So he gives orders that his servants should give all of them the same rich food and wine that he and his family receive.

Daniel is telling Neb-u-chad-nez-zar's chief servant Ash'pe-naz  that he does not want to eat the rich things from the king's table. But Ash'pe-naz is worried.  'The king has decided you are to eat and drink,' he says,' he says.  'And if you don't look as healthy as the other young men, he may kill me.'

Next time: Conclusion of Four Boys in Babylon

From the jw.org publications