Daniel Chapter 1
So, in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, showed up in Jerusalem and laid siege. Total savage move.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
The Lord handed Jehoiakim over to Nebuchadnezzar, plus some of God’s goods, and he carted it all off to Shinar for his god’s crib. Bussin' vibes.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
The king was like, "Yo, Ashpenaz, my main dude overseeing the eunuchs, go scoop some Israelite youths and royal fam."
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring {certain} of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
These kids were flawless, mad cute, and had serious skills in wisdom and knowledge. They were ready to pop off in the king's palace and learn the Chaldean way of life.
Children in whom {was} no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as {had} ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
The king hooked them up with a daily feast of his food and wine for three years, so they could flex in front of him.
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. {the wine...: Heb. the wine of his drink}
Among those kids were Judah's fam: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
The eunuch prince rebranded them: Daniel turned into Belteshazzar; Hananiah was repped as Shadrach; Mishael got switched to Meshach; and Azariah became Abed-nego.
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel {the name} of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
But Daniel was like, "No cap, I’m not about to defile myself with the king's food or wine," so he slid into the eunuch prince's DMs to keep it chill.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
God legit gave Daniel major vibes with the eunuch prince, making him low-key fond of him.
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
The eunuch prince was shook, saying, "I fear my lord the king who picked your food. What if you look worse than the other kids? You’d get me in serious trouble."
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which {are} of your sort? then shall ye make {me} endanger my head to the king. {worse...: Heb. sadder} {sort: or, term, or, continuance?}
Then Daniel spoke to Melzar, the eunuch prince’s right-hand man in charge of him and the others.
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, {Melzar: or, the steward}
He said, "Ayo, let’s run a test for ten days. Just give us veggies to munch on and water to drink."
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. {pulse: Heb. of pulse} {to eat...: Heb. that we may eat, etc}
Then, peep our faces compared to the kids eating the king’s grub, and do whatever you vibe with.
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
The eunuch prince was down for it and let them run the test for ten days.
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
After ten days, they looked way healthier and fresher than all the kids munching on the king’s meals.
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
So Melzar switched it up, taking away their meat and wine and giving them veggies instead.
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
For these four youths, God blessed them with mad knowledge and skills in all things learning and wisdom; Daniel was also lit with insights into visions and dreams.
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. {Daniel...: or, he made Daniel understand}
When the time came for the king to bring them in, the eunuch prince presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
The king chatted with them, and none were as impressive as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; they definitely stood out.
And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
In all the wisdom and understanding the king asked about, they were ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his entire kingdom.
And in all matters of wisdom {and} understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians {and} astrologers that {were} in all his realm. {wisdom...: Heb. wisdom of understanding}
Daniel kept it going strong until the first year of King Cyrus.
And Daniel continued {even} unto the first year of king Cyrus.