3
Then the kingorderedAshpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royalfamily and of the nobles,
4
youths in whom was no*defect, who were good-looking*, showingintelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerningknowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king'scourt; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
5
The kingappointed for them a dailyration from the king'schoicefood and from the winewhich he drank, and appointed that they should be educatedthreeyears, at the end of which they were to enter the king'spersonalservice*.