1. Kwathi xa ukumkani uJoyakim akunyaka wesithathu elawula kwelakwaJuda, ukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli weza eJerusalem, wayingqinga.
2. Ke iNkosi yamnikela esandleni sakhe uJoyakim ukumkani wakwaJuda, yathinjwa inxalenye yempahla yendlu kaThixo. Ezi zinto uNebhukadenezare waya nazo ezweni laseShinare, waya kuzifaka endlwini yothixo wakhe kwigumbi elinguvimba wobutyebi.
3. Ukumkani uNebhukadenezare wathi kuAshpenazi, intloko yamaphakathi akomkhulu, makakhethe abafana begazi nabomnombo wezikhulu apho kuloo maSirayeli wayewathimbile.
4. Wathi makakhethe iinzwana ezingenasiphako, ezikrelekrele ngengqondo, eziqeqeshekileyo, nezinengqiqo – abafana abakufaneleyo ukugosiswa komkhulu. UAshpenazi wayalelwa ukuba abafundise ukusithetha nokusifunda isiKaledi.
5. Ngaphezu koko ukumkani wayalela ukuba yonke imihla mabaphakelwe kwimbiza kakumkani, ngokunjalo basele nakwiwayini yakhe. Olu qeqesho ke lwaluza kuthatha iminyaka emithathu, emva koko bagosiswe komkhulu.
6. Phakathi kwâbo bakhethiweyo ke kwabakho nabafana bendlu kaJuda: uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli, noAzariya.
7. Ke kaloku intloko yamaphakathi akomkhulu yabathiya amagama amatsha; uDaniyeli wabizwa ngokuba nguBhelteshazare, uHananiya ngokuba nguShadraki, uMishayeli ngokuba nguMeshaki, uAzariya ngokuba nguAbhednigo.