Daniel's captivity in Babylon began*
In the THIRD YEAR of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal afamily and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. (DAN 1:1, 3-6)