Tafsiran Daniel 1:4: Rashi, Chomat Anakh & Ibn Ezra

and who have strength Our Sages explained (Sanh. 93b) that they should restrain themselves from laughing, speaking and sleeping, out of fear of the throne, and resist the urge when they feel the need to relieve themselves.

Children who have no blemish, are good-looking, and are intelligent in all wisdom. It is possible to say, as mentioned in Masechet Ta'anit, that wisdom is esteemed in vessels that are unattractive, and this is the greatness of Jerusalem because its sons were beautiful and wise, which was not found in other countries. This is explained by Rabbi Peri Chadash z"l in Masechet Kiddushin, that ten kavim of wisdom descended to the world, nine were taken by other places, and Jerusalem took one. Similarly, ten kavim of beauty descended to the world, nine were taken by other places, and Jerusalem took one, as we say in Masechet Ta'anit: If they were hated, they were learned, even more than this. Rabbi Yehoshua says: Jerusalem had two hidden treasures, nine kavim of beauty and nine kavim of wisdom. The Gemara asks: What is the reason? If they were hated, they would have been learned even more. And this is why Nebuchadnezzar asked to bring those who were good-looking and intelligent in all wisdom, as it was difficult to match them together, and it is inevitable that those who hate beauty would also hate wisdom. So according to their nature, they hate beauty and wisdom, and furthermore, they hate beauty. And behold, they are in a threesome.

[Daniel 1:4] Yeladim (יְלָדִים - Youths): [The verse specifies youths without blemish] unlike the blind and the lame, who are not fit to stand before a king. Therefore, it is written: “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house” [cf. II Samuel 5:8]. And the meaning [of "house" there] is: the royal house of David.

and to teach them the script This refers back to “who have strength.”