3 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;
4 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.
Further study: Psalm 137:1-4.
What was the reason for Nebuchadnezzar’s selection of those that he brought into his court?
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The righteous and the unrighteous were taken captive from Judah. Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashpenaz to glean the best and brightest people of Judah. His duties included teaching them in the ways of the Chaldeans (aka: Shinar, Babylonians) such that they were worthy of serving the king. Prophesied by: Isaiah 39:6-7.
The king sought to enlarge his court with more ‘wise men’, in all areas of skill and science. Nebuchadnezzar enslaved, to his palace, those with the quality of having experience, knowledge, judgment, and soundness of action. Among those chosen were Judah’s great observers and thinkers. This was an attempt to assimilate talent to serve the empire and shape culture.
Ashpenza was the ‘master’ or chief official of the eunuchs. It was a common practice for the king’s court and administration to be populated with eunuchs to guards against mutiny. As slaves, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah most likely were castrated and made eunuchs; but the bible does not indicate either way. We can say with certainty that kings often castrated their slaves to ensure that they did not have children or romantic interests that might tempt them towards betrayal. See: 2 Kings 20:18.
It is interesting that Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah’s names mean: Yahweh has been gracious, who is what God is, and Yahweh has helped.