ah the Chaldeans
broke in pieces and carried the brass from them to Babylon. Also the
pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the bowls, and all the vessels of
brass, with which sacrifices were offered in the temple, they took away.
The fire-pans and the basins of silver and of gold, the commander of the
body-guard also melted and took away.

The commander of the body-guard carried away Seraiah, the chief priest
and Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three doorkeepers and brought
them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And the king of Babylon put them
to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So the people of Judah were
carried away captive from their own homeland.

Nebuchadrezzar made Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, governor over the
people he had left in the land of Judah.

Now Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, had given this command about
Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the commander of the body-guard, "Take good
care of him, and do him no harm; but do to him as he shall tell you." So
Nebuzaradan, the commander of the body-guard, said to him, "See, I
release you this day from the chains which are upon your hand. If it
seems best to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look out
for you. But if you do not wish to come with me to Babylon, do not come;
go back to Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the
cities of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go wherever it
seems right for you to go." So the commander of the body-guard gave
Jeremiah food and a present, and sent him away. Then Jeremiah went to
Gedaliah, who was at Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who
were left in the land.

THE COURAGE OF FOUR CAPTIVES

Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, commanded Ashpenaz, the chief of
his servants, to bring to him certain of the Israelites and some of
their princes and nobles. They were to be young men who were strong and
handsome, well taught and quick to learn and able to serve in the king's
palace. And they were to be taught the learning and the language of the
Chaldeans. The king gave to them each day some of his rich food and some
of the wine which he drank. He also commanded that they should be taught
for three years, and that at the end of that time they should enter the
royal service.

Among these young men were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; but
the chief of the king's servants gave other names to them. To Daniel he
gave the name Belteshazzar, and to Hanania