Daniel 1

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.Cross-references: 2Ki 24:1 · 2Ki 24:13 · 2Chr 36:5

2The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.Cross-references: Gen 10:10 · Gen 11:2 · Deut 28:49 · Deut 32:30 · Judg 2:14 · Judg 3:8 · +16 more

3The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles:Cross-references: 2Ki 20:17 · 2Ki 24:15 · Isa 39:7 · Jer 41:1

4youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.Cross-references: Lev 21:18 · Lev 24:19 · Judg 8:18 · 2Sam 14:25 · Prov 22:29 · Eccl 7:19 · +12 more

5The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand before the king.Cross-references: Gen 41:46 · 1Sam 16:22 · 1Ki 4:22 · 1Ki 10:8 · 2Ki 25:30 · 2Chr 9:7 · +7 more

6Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.Cross-references: Ezek 14:14 · Ezek 14:20 · Ezek 28:3 · Dan 2:17 · Matt 24:15 · Mark 13:14

7The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.Cross-references: Gen 41:45 · 2Ki 23:34 · 2Ki 24:17 · Dan 1:3 · Dan 1:10 · Dan 2:26 · +4 more

8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.Cross-references: Lev 11:45 · Deut 32:38 · Ruth 1:17 · 1Ki 5:5 · Ps 106:28 · Ps 119:106 · +13 more

9Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.Cross-references: Gen 32:28 · Gen 39:21 · 1Ki 8:50 · Ezra 7:27 · Neh 1:11 · Neh 2:4 · +4 more

10The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”Cross-references: Prov 29:25 · Matt 6:16 · John 12:42

11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

12“Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.Cross-references: Gen 1:29 · Deut 8:3 · Dan 1:16 · Rom 14:2

13Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s delicacies; and as you see, deal with your servants.”

14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

15At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies.Cross-references: Ex 23:25 · Deut 28:1 · 2Ki 4:42 · Ps 37:16 · Prov 10:22 · Hag 1:6 · +4 more

16So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they were given to drink, and gave them vegetables.Cross-references: Dan 1:12

17Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.Cross-references: Gen 41:8 · Num 12:6 · 1Ki 3:12 · 1Ki 3:28 · 1Ki 4:29 · 2Chr 1:10 · +25 more

18At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.Cross-references: Dan 1:5

19The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.Cross-references: Gen 41:46 · 1Ki 17:1 · Prov 22:29 · Jer 15:19 · Dan 1:5

20In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.Cross-references: Gen 31:7 · Gen 41:8 · Ex 7:11 · Ex 7:22 · Ex 8:7 · Ex 8:19 · +17 more

21Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus.Cross-references: Dan 6:28 · Dan 10:1