Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 1:3

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs , that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the kings seed, and of the princes .

These here called Eunuchs were chief among the Kings Servants; and they are called Eunuchs because many of them were such as at this day and of old among all the Princes of the East, but they were not all such, Ier. 52.25. The word translated Eunuch signifies also Chamberlain, such was Hatach, Esther, 4.5. such were Bigthan[illegible: 1 letter] and Ie[illegible: 2 letters]sh, Esther, 6.2. and Harbonah, Esther 7.9. Ashpenaz in the Text, the master of the Kings Eunuchs, who had set Melzar over Daniel and his companions, ver. 11.

Here was fulfilled what the Prophet Isaiah had foretold King Hezekiah, Isa. 39.7. Some think Daniel and his Companions were made Eunuchs in a strict sense, which doth not appear to be probable; but rather to be bred up in the Court for Officers, and thereby to alienate their minds from the Religion of their Countrey, and from seeking the welfare and return of their people, but God had otherwise appointed by this Education of them, as appears in many signal testimonies of the presence, and power of God with them, for the conviction of Idolaters that God was above all gods.