² And the ^(A)Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the ^(B)vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of ^(C)Shinar, to the house of his ^[a]god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his ^[b](D)god.

³ Then the king said for Ashpenaz, the chief of his ^[c]officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal ^(E)seed and of the nobles, ⁴ youths in whom was ^(F)no defect, who were good in appearance, showing ^(G)insight in every branch of wisdom, being thoroughly ^[d]knowledgeable and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and he said for him to teach them the ^[e]literature and ^(H)tongue of the ^(I)Chaldeans.