Chapter I

ועתה שמע אלקינו אל תפלת עבדך ואל
תחנוניו והאר פניך על מקדשך השמם
למען אדני

"And now, our G-d, hearken to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications and let Your countenance shine upon Your desolate Sanctuary for the L-rd's sake."1

This was a prayer offered by Daniel to G-d. Daniel,2 together with Chananya, Mishael and Azarya (three other children of the royal house of Dovid), as well as many other Jewish youth, were carried to Babylon by King Nevuchadnetzar. Nevuchadnetzar commanded Ashpenaz, his chief officer, to choose children of Jewish royalty, well-built and of fair appearance and without even the most minute or hidden blemish.3 They were to be of exceptional character, wise and discerning. Such children would be fit to live in the king's palace, where they would be reared by capable teachers for three years. Daniel, Chananya, Mishael and Azarya, the four boys chosen by the chief officer, were given the names of deities worshipped by the Kasdim.4 Daniel was renamed Beltshetzar, Chananya-Shedrach, Mishael-Meshach, and Azarya was called Abed-Nego.

With the aid of excellent physicians, the king himself selected the food and drink with which the children would be nourished. Their guardian tried feeding them their special diet, but Daniel firmly resolved to refrain from eating the non-kosher foods served him from the royal kitchens, and from drinking the non-kosher wines from the royal cellars. That this defiance of the royal decree subjected him to the death penalty did not deter him.

In summary: When Nevuchadnetzar captured Yerushalayim, he chose Daniel, Chananya, Mishael and Azarya, all children of royal descent. He changed their names and commanded that they be fed non-kosher food and drink. Daniel and his companions, with mesirus nefesh, refused to eat these forbidden foods.