'Nebuchadnezzar and the Three
Children ' (Daniel i, 3-21)
DANIEL, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were selected by Ashpancz from the captive children of Israel to join a company of young men, ' well favoured, skilful in all Wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding science,' from among whom King Nebuchadnezzar, after they had been instructed in the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans for three veers, would select his three chief counsellors.
During these three years it was decreed that they should be given a daily provision of the king's meat and of the wine which he drank. But Daniel, not wishing to defile himself by submitting to this diet, persuaded Ashpanez to allow him and his three compatriots to ep.t pulse and to drink water.
Now at the end of the three years when the company of young men were brought before the king, ' there was found among them all none like Daniel, Hantmiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore stood they before the king, and became his foremost advisers.
Nebuchadnezzar found them so much wiser than all his magicians and astrologers that soon, headed by Daniel, they attained positions of great importance in the kingdom of Persia.