Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 1:4

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well-favoured and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science , and such as had ability in them to stand in the kings palace , and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans .

If Princes are so curious in their choice, no marvel that God was cautious in his, Lev. 21.17. to ver. 21. and 22.20. to ver. 25. The reason why they were so delicately trained up, was that they being in the flower of their Age should be allured with the delights of the Court, and should thereby be brought to forget their Fathers house, and their Religion; this hath been the artifice of the Turk in taking Christians Children, and making them Mamal[illegible: 1 letter]cks and Ianizaries, that thereby they may be come as Renegadoes, the greatest Champions for Mahomet, and Enemies to the Christians.

This notes men fit by their parts to give advice in arduous matters, 2 Chron. 10.6. which shews that men only of promising abilities, and not incompetent should be admitted to the presence of Kings.

For this cause Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians Acts 7.22. yet it must be supposed that neither Moses nor Daniel learned any thing that was ungodly, but only to search nature, and that which was only moral; wherein both the Chaldeans and Egyptians were skil'd above any other nations of the Heathens. And although their Magi or Wisemen did at last degenerate into curious and vain Arts, yet Daniel had no further design to know their Wisdom then to chuse the good of it, and to shun, and reject that which was unlawful. The Chaldean Tongue differed from the Hebrew in dialect, and in pronuntiation, which they learned in the right tone and accent, that they might be the more acceptable to the King, and Court by their conformity in Garb, Language and Manners; for which they had the space of three years allotted them.