2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles of the house of God; and he brought them into the land of[3] Shinar, to the house of his god, and brought the articles into the treasury of his god.

3 And the [Babylonian] king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his[4] officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some from the royal family and from the nobles,

4 young men without blemish and handsome in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with intelligence and discernment, and quick to understand, competent to stand [in the presence of the king] and able to serve in the king's palace. He also ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the literature and language of the[5] Chaldeans.