“Et ait rex Asphenez præposito eunuchorum ut introduceret de filiis Israël, et de semine regio et tyrannorum,”
“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;”
“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—”
“The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles;”
“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;”
Eunuchs, or chief officers. The Jews assert that Daniel was made an eunuch, Isaias xxxix. 7. But he might be so styled on account of his dignity. (Calmet) — Princes. Literally, “tyrants.” (Haydock) — This name was afterwards only rendered odious by the misconduct of several kings. (Calmet) — Hebrew parthemim, (Haydock) seems to be of Greek derivation, alluding to protimoi, or protoi, “the first or most honoured.” (Drusius) — We find here other Greek words. (Calmet)
We have in these verses an account,
Verses 1-7 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, took Jerusalem, and carried whom and what he pleased away. From this first captivity, most think the seventy years are to be dated. It is the interest of princes to employ wise men; and it is their wisdom to find out and train up such. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that these chosen youths should be taught. All their Hebrew names had something of God in them; but to make them forget the God of their fathers, the Guide of their youth, the heathen gave them names that savoured of idolatry. It is painful to reflect how often public education tends to corrupt the principles and morals.