the ramp, pouring over the wall and into the city. Women and children ran screaming for protection. The army of Jehoiakim fell back as hundreds more were slain. They were no match for the battle-hardened Babylonians. Within half a day it was over.
The smell of death was everywhere. Soldiers stripped the dead of any valuables and left them lying where they had 65 fallen. The living were herded into the temple courtyard. There the elderly, handicapped, and wounded were separated from the women, children, and teenagers. The able-bodied men were killed where they stood.
Nebuchadnezzar and his soldiers looted the city. He let his men take anything they wanted. He kept only the gold and tapestries from the temple. He would bring these trophies back to the treasure house of his god.
Nebuchadnezzar then went to examine the captives. He instructed Ashpenaz, his master of eunuchs, to select young men fourteen to seventeen years of age to be trained as aides for the king's court.
"I want you to pick out only those who are children of King Jehoiakim or the nobles of the city. They must be healthy and without any blemishes. Make sure that they have wisdom, are quick learners, and are widely read in many fields. They must have poise enough to keep silent and still look good in the palace. The women and children who remain are to become servants for the nobles of the court. Leave the elderly, crippled, and wounded to clean up the city. They pose no threat."
Daniel, along with many other lads, was chained together for the long march back to Babylon. During a water stop at the second oasis Daniel had opportunity to talk to others shackled near him.
"My name is Daniel," he murmured. "I am the son of Malkia, the chief judge of the king's court. The barbarians have killed my brother and my parents."
"My name is Hananiah," said the teen standing nearest Daniel. "These are my two brothers, Mishael and Azariah. We are sons of Zephathah. Our father was keeper of the king's 66 treasury. We too have lost our parents. Do you know where they're taking us?"
"I overheard someone say that we were to become slaves in King Nebuchadnezzar's palace."
Mishael nodded toward the man overseeing the slaves. "Do you know anything about him?"
"The soldiers call him Ashpenaz," Daniel explained. "He is master of the king's eunuchs."
Azariah said fearfully, "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"I am afraid so," said Daniel. "But at least they're not going to kill us."
"But, Daniel, don't you want to someday marry and have sons and daughters of your own? How can you stay so calm?"
"Yes, Azariah, I do, but we both know that will never happen now. We must trust ourselves to God. I don't like the idea of becoming a eunuch any more than you do."
Daniel was jolted from his memories when he felt the brushing of soft fur on his face. One of the lions stopped, looked back at him, and sniffed. Daniel froze. He was holding his breath when the lion turned and collapsed right next to him like an overgrown pet. Confused and curious, Daniel slowly reached out his hand and touched the animal's back. It did not move.
I wonder what would happen if I petted it.
Daniel smiled when the large male seemed to enjoy the caress.
I must still be dreaming. This cannot be real.
But it was. He could feel the warmth of the cat's body and the rising and lowering of its chest as it breathed. The heat of the 67 cat's body was almost comforting. Slowly Daniel began to relax. As he started to pray, his memories returned.
Hananiah was the first to see it. "Look!" he exclaimed, nodding toward the north. The other boys turned to see the majestic city of Babylon in the distance.
As they approached, they could see a wide moat circling the city. Merchant boats sailed in the waters that were fed by the great Euphrates River. The wall surrounding Babylon was three hundred feet tall and ran for as far as the eye could see. One of the other captured boys said he heard that the four walls
The smell of death was everywhere. Soldiers stripped the dead of any valuables and left them lying where they had 65 fallen. The living were herded into the temple courtyard. There the elderly, handicapped, and wounded were separated from the women, children, and teenagers. The able-bodied men were killed where they stood.
Nebuchadnezzar and his soldiers looted the city. He let his men take anything they wanted. He kept only the gold and tapestries from the temple. He would bring these trophies back to the treasure house of his god.
Nebuchadnezzar then went to examine the captives. He instructed Ashpenaz, his master of eunuchs, to select young men fourteen to seventeen years of age to be trained as aides for the king's court.
"I want you to pick out only those who are children of King Jehoiakim or the nobles of the city. They must be healthy and without any blemishes. Make sure that they have wisdom, are quick learners, and are widely read in many fields. They must have poise enough to keep silent and still look good in the palace. The women and children who remain are to become servants for the nobles of the court. Leave the elderly, crippled, and wounded to clean up the city. They pose no threat."
Daniel, along with many other lads, was chained together for the long march back to Babylon. During a water stop at the second oasis Daniel had opportunity to talk to others shackled near him.
"My name is Daniel," he murmured. "I am the son of Malkia, the chief judge of the king's court. The barbarians have killed my brother and my parents."
"My name is Hananiah," said the teen standing nearest Daniel. "These are my two brothers, Mishael and Azariah. We are sons of Zephathah. Our father was keeper of the king's 66 treasury. We too have lost our parents. Do you know where they're taking us?"
"I overheard someone say that we were to become slaves in King Nebuchadnezzar's palace."
Mishael nodded toward the man overseeing the slaves. "Do you know anything about him?"
"The soldiers call him Ashpenaz," Daniel explained. "He is master of the king's eunuchs."
Azariah said fearfully, "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"I am afraid so," said Daniel. "But at least they're not going to kill us."
"But, Daniel, don't you want to someday marry and have sons and daughters of your own? How can you stay so calm?"
"Yes, Azariah, I do, but we both know that will never happen now. We must trust ourselves to God. I don't like the idea of becoming a eunuch any more than you do."
Daniel was jolted from his memories when he felt the brushing of soft fur on his face. One of the lions stopped, looked back at him, and sniffed. Daniel froze. He was holding his breath when the lion turned and collapsed right next to him like an overgrown pet. Confused and curious, Daniel slowly reached out his hand and touched the animal's back. It did not move.
I wonder what would happen if I petted it.
Daniel smiled when the large male seemed to enjoy the caress.
I must still be dreaming. This cannot be real.
But it was. He could feel the warmth of the cat's body and the rising and lowering of its chest as it breathed. The heat of the 67 cat's body was almost comforting. Slowly Daniel began to relax. As he started to pray, his memories returned.
Hananiah was the first to see it. "Look!" he exclaimed, nodding toward the north. The other boys turned to see the majestic city of Babylon in the distance.
As they approached, they could see a wide moat circling the city. Merchant boats sailed in the waters that were fed by the great Euphrates River. The wall surrounding Babylon was three hundred feet tall and ran for as far as the eye could see. One of the other captured boys said he heard that the four walls
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