Long had the Lord pled with the nation of Israel, through prophets and providential happenings, to return from their apostasy and idol worship that they had copied from the Pagan's around them. 

 God had allowed the nation to become divided into two parts after the reign of Solomon. Israel had fallen several years before to the Assyrians, and now  the forces of Babylon under the young prince Nebuchadnezzar were threatening Jerusalem.  They were warned by God's prophets that Jerusalem would be taken. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar took captive King Jehoiakim and took the vessels from the Temple away to Babylon. He also took captives from the royal family. About this time, Nebuchadnezzar's father, the king, died and he returned to Babylon quickly to secure his throne. He left some special orders—

Daniel 1:3,4 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 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 king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were among these captives taken away from their homes to Babylon. They were just youths at the time. 

When they arrived in the Great City of Babylon, they were given over to the Prince of the Eunuchs who was to see that they were educated. For three years they were to study in the schools of what was then the most advanced kingdom on earth. After their training they were to go in before the King, who would assign them duties in his government.  It seemed things were looking up for the captive children from Jerusalem.

BUT THEN CAME A BIG PROBLEM!