26 obedience to this, command, Ashphenaz carried away a company of young men of high rank, among whom were Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, arid Azariah. Ashpenaz changed their names to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These were Babylonian names, and had some reference to the names of several of the Chaldean gods. It will be recollected, that Nebuchadnezzar did not destroy Jerusalem at this time, but only made it a province of Babylon, and took away part of the vessels of the temple. This band of Hebrew youths, who accompanied the Chaldean army as it retired from Jerusalem, must have cast many sad glances backward upon their beloved city and temple, and the palaces in which they had dwelt. The piety of Daniel supported him under this trial, and aided him in forming wise plans for regulating his conduct when he should be exposed to the temptations of * heathen COuł′t, After a march of many days, they entered the cotintry of Chaldea, and the great city of Babylon lay before them. As soon as they arrived there.
