"God gave them knowledge and skill."--_Daniel 1:17._
AMONG the Jews who were carried away to Babylon there were some little
boys, young princes of the king's family, who had been brought up in
the palace of the house of David. They could not have been more than
twelve years old when they were thus taken from their homes.
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.