The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, thought he should like to have them to wait on him. So he desired the steward of his place to have them taken into his care, to be taught both to wait on the king, and to know all the learning of Babylon.
Slaves instead of princes. That was sad enough, but what grieved these boys most of all was that the dinners that were sent to them all came from the king's own table, and they knew that all the meat there came from creatures that had been offered up to idols.
Now there was one boy, whose name was Daniel, who knew that it was very wrong for any Jew to eat meats that had been offered to idols. Some of the boys said they did not care, and some said they were very sorry, but they could not help it. Yes, Daniel said, they could help it if they would leave off eating meat and drinking wine, and only have beans and water.
LOYAL TO DANIEL.
Then three more of the boys said they would stand by Daniel, and have only the beans and water rather than break God's holy Law. Their proper names were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, but the king had changed all the boys' names, and he called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
So Daniel asked their master, Melzar, to give them none of the rich wine and fine dainties, but only water and pulse—that is, beans.
But Melzar said they would grow thin and weak on such poor food, and then the king would be angry with him.
"Only try us for just ten days," Daniel said.
And God so blessed the food, that at the end of ten days, Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were fairer and fatter than all their cousins and friends who had been eating the king's dainties.
And Melzar had found that none were so true and honest and obedient and painstaking, so he trusted them very much; and they grew wise and learned, and still loved and feared their God, though they were slaves so far away from home.