Ashpenaz

Biblical Account

The name Ashpenaz appears only once, in Daniel 1:3. In the rest of chapter 1 he is referred to not by name but by his title, "chief of the eunuchs" (rendered "prince of the eunuchs" in the KJV). The title denotes the head of the officials serving in the royal palace.

According to Daniel 1, King Nebuchadnezzar commanded Ashpenaz to bring certain of the children of Israel from the royal family and the nobility. Those chosen were to be youths without blemish, handsome in appearance, and endowed with wisdom. They were to study the learning and language of the Chaldeans for three years and then serve the king (Daniel 1:3–5). The chief of the eunuchs gave these youths Babylonian names (Daniel 1:7):

• Daniel → Belteshazzar
• Hananiah → Shadrach
• Mishael → Meshach
• Azariah → Abednego

Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king's food and wine, and he made a request of the chief of the eunuchs. The text records, "Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs" (Daniel 1:9). The chief of the eunuchs, however, feared that if the youths looked haggard, his own head would be in danger before the king (Daniel 1:10). Daniel therefore made a further request to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over them, asking that they be given only vegetables and water for ten days (Daniel 1:11–14). When the appointed period had ended, the chief of the eunuchs brought the youths before Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:18).

Significance Within the Bible

Ashpenaz is a minor figure who appears at the opening of the narrative of the book of Daniel. He is the official who actually carried out Babylon's process of absorbing the captives into its system, a process that consisted of education, renaming, and the provision of food. Daniel 1:9 attributes to God the favor Daniel gained with a foreign official. This verse connects with a theme that runs throughout the book of Daniel: that God reigns even in the land of exile. Ashpenaz is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Debated Points

• Meaning of "eunuch": The Hebrew word saris can denote a castrated man, but more broadly it can also mean a court official. Interpreters therefore differ as to whether Ashpenaz was literally a eunuch or whether the word was simply a title designating a high-ranking official.
• Did Daniel and his three friends also become eunuchs?: Isaiah 39:7 and 2 Kings 20:18 contain a prophecy that descendants of Hezekiah would become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. On the basis of this prophecy, some Jewish traditions and interpreters have held that Daniel and his friends also became eunuchs. The text of Daniel, however, does not say so directly.
• Etymology of the name: The linguistic origin of the name Ashpenaz is uncertain, and several theories have been proposed.
• Assessment of his character: Ashpenaz is commonly portrayed as well disposed toward Daniel. The text, however, also records that, out of fear of the king, he did not himself grant Daniel's request.

In Korean Churches

In sermons and Sunday school lessons in Korean churches, Ashpenaz is introduced when Daniel 1 is taught. He is mentioned chiefly as one of the figures surrounding Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the story of how Daniel "purposed in his heart" (Daniel 1:8) to keep his faith and how God showed him grace. Ashpenaz is rarely treated on his own.