¹⁸ And some of your descendants,^(A) your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”^(B)

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility^(A)—

⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(A) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(B) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(C) and literature of the Babylonians.^[a]