⁷ The chief eunuch assigned them different names: Daniel would be called Belteshazzar, Hananiah would be called Shadrach, Mishael would be called Meshach, and Azariah would be called Abednego.

⁸ However, Daniel was determined not to defile himself by partaking of food and wine from the royal table, and he pleaded with the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement. ⁹ God influenced the eunuch to grant this favor and to treat Daniel with compassion.