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A man lived in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
The History of Susanna is translated from chapter 13 of Daniel in the Greek Septuagint. It is not found in the traditional Hebrew text of Daniel. The History of Susanna is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches.
He took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one who feared the Lord.
Her parents were also righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.
Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a beautiful garden next to his house. The Jews used to come to him, because he was more honorable than all others.
The same year, two of the elders of the people were appointed to be judges, such as the Lord spoke of, that wickedness came from Babylon from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.
Verse 5. Judges. The Jews say they were Achab and Sedecias, (Orig.) as this text seems to allude to Jeremiah 29:21 or 33:14. But how were they burnt? since the Jews appear to have stoned them, unless they were delivered up to the king’s officers. verse 61. Calmet.—The captives under Joakim, were better treated than those who were taken nineteen years afterwards, when all fell into a heavier bondage. Worthington.—The might enjoy possessions, ( Bible.) and have judges of their nation. Calmet.—Cappel. urges this difficulty, and many others, to shew that this account is fabulous. But as the Jews were allowed to follow their religion, the Chaldees would strive to keep them in good order. It is not said that Joakim was one of the captives. He might have settled long before at Babylon, where Helcias probably brought up his daughter in the fear of God. verse 3. The judges might also have had authority before over the Israelites, in Assyria, who were now all under the same government. verse 57. Houbigant. Pref.
These were often at Joakim’s house. All that had any lawsuits came to them.
When the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.
Verse 7. Noon, at which time the Jews dined, (verse 13. Jos. vita) and the streets were as little frequented as they are at night among us. Hence the judges thought this a fit opportunity. Calmet.
The two elders saw her going in every day and walking; and they were inflamed with lust for her.
They perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to heaven, nor remember just judgments.
Verse 9. Mind. They were distracted by love, ( Bible.) and rendered foolish.
And although they both were wounded with lust for her, yet dared not show the other his grief.
For they were ashamed to declare their lust, what they desired to do with her.
Yet they watched eagerly from day to day to see her.
The one said to the other, “Let’s go home, now; for it is dinner time.”
So when they had gone out, they parted company, and turning back again, they came to the same place. After they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust. Then they appointed a time both together, when they might find her alone.
It happened, as they watched on an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and she desired to wash herself in the garden; for it was hot.
There was nobody there except the two elders who had hid themselves and watched her.
Then she said to her maids, “Bring me olive oil and ointment, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash myself.”
They did as she asked them and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at the side doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them. They didn’t see the elders, because they were hidden.
Verse 18. Back door, leading from the house. Strangers came by the other gates. Calmet.—Susanna had not perhaps at first intended to bathe. Cappel. accuses her of imprudence, without reason. He cannot believe that the old judges would be so sottish as they appear to have been. Houbigant.
Now when the maids had gone out, the two elders rose up and ran to her, saying,
“Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with you. Therefore consent to us, and lie with us.
If you will not, we will testify against you, that a young man was with you; therefore you sent your maids away from you.”
Then Susanna sighed, and said, “I am trapped; for if I do this thing, it is death to me. If I don’t do it, I can’t escape your hands.
Verse 22. Death of the soul, (Saint Jerome) and also of the body, if the adultery were detected. How much does Susanna surpass the famed Lucretia, who slew herself to shew that she had not consented to her violation! Si adultera cur laudata? Si pudica cur occisa? Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. i. 19. Saint Ambrose de Sp. iii. 3. Calmet.
It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”
With that Susanna cried with a loud voice; and the two elders cried out against her.
Verse 24. Out. so the law ordained, when a woman was assaulted. Bible.
Then one of them ran and opened the garden doors.
So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her.
But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed; for there was never such a report made of Susanna.
It came to pass on the next day, when the people assembled to her husband Joakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Susanna to put her to death,
and said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, Joakim’s wife.” So they sent;
Verse 29. People, for greater shew of justice. Worthington.—We here behold the forms.
and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.
Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beautiful to behold.
These wicked men commanded her to be unveiled, for she was veiled, that they might be filled with her beauty.
Verse 32. Uncovered, pretending that respect for the company required it, or perhaps that they might detect her guilt by her blushes. Calmet.—But their real motive is here disclosed. Bible.
Therefore her friends and all who saw her wept.
Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon her head.
Verse 34. Head, saying, “Thy malice brings on this chastisement, and not we.” Lyran.—They appear to discharge their conscience, (Leviticus 1:4 and 24:14) no as judges but as accusers. The people pass sentence. verse 41. Adulteresses were stoned. Leviticus 20:10. Calmet.
She, weeping, looked up toward heaven; for her heart trusted in the Lord.
The elders said, “As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.
Then a young man who was hidden there came to her and lay with her.
And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness and ran to them.
And when we saw them together, we couldn’t hold the man; for he was stronger than we, and opened the doors, and leaped out.
But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us. We testify these things.
Then the assembly believed them, as those who were elders of the people and judges; so they condemned her to death.
Verse 41. Death. The multitude approved of this sentence, which the judges pronounced, pretending to act agreeably to the law. Deuteronomy 22. Worthington.
Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O everlasting God, you know the secrets, and know all things before they happen.
You know that they have testified falsely against me. Behold, I must die, even though I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.”
The Lord heard her voice.
Therefore when she was led away to be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel.
Verse 45. Boy. He was about twelve years old. S. Ign. ad Magn. Sulpit. ii. Theod.—He might walk out, though he lodged at court. Houbig.—God enabled him to declare that Susanna was innocent. The people had consented to her death, but he stands up in her defence. Worthington.
He cried with a loud voice, “I am clear from the blood of this woman!”
Verse 46. Clear. This form is often used. Acts 18:6. Matthew 27:24.
Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, “What do these words that you have spoken mean?”
So he, standing in the midst of them, said, “Are you all such fools, you sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth you have condemned a daughter of Israel?
Verse 48. Truth. They had taken no precautions to ascertain it; which they ought to have done the more, as Susanna had always been highly esteemed. Calmet.—As the witnesses were positive, she must die, except their falsehood could be manifested, which not suspected. Houbig.
Return again to the place of judgment; for these have testified falsely against her.”
Therefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said to him, “Come, sit down among us, and show it to us, seeing God has given you the honor of an elder.”
Verse 50. Old men. They speak sarcastically; or rather other senators, who had not been in the plot, address Daniel.
Then Daniel said to them, “Put them far apart from each another, and I will examine them.”
So when they were put apart one from another, he called one of them, and said to him, “O you who have become old in wickedness, now your sins have returned which you have committed before,
in pronouncing unjust judgment, condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; although the Lord says, ‘You shall not kill the innocent and righteous.’
Now then, if you saw her, tell me, under which tree did you see them companying together?” He answered, “Under a mastick tree.”
And Daniel said, “You have certainly lied against your own head; for even now the angel of God has received the sentence of God and will cut you in two.”
Verse 55. Two. This punishment was not unusual: yet it is probable that the two old men were stoned to death by the law of retaliation. verse 61. Exodus 19:4. There is an allusion, in Greek, between schinon and schisei, and also between Prinos and prisei; (verse 58, 59) and hence it is concluded that this work was originally in that language. But there might be a similar allusion in Hebrew or Chal. or the translator might think it lawful to put one tree for another. Calmet.—We find a tree called shinar, in Persia. Tavern. iv. 6. It would be easy to produce similar allusions in the Latin ilex; thus ilico peribis, and so forth Menochius.
So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said to him, “O you seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart.
Thus you have dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear were intimate with you; but the daughter of Judah would not tolerate your wickedness.
Verse 57. Israel, when you were judges in Assyria. verse 5. Bible.—Conversed. No one could be alone with women, in the East, without suspicion.
Now therefore tell me, under which tree did you take them being intimate together?” He answered, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”
Then Daniel said to him, “You have also certainly lied against your own head; for the angel of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you.”
With that, all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.
Then they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false testimony out of their own mouth.
Verse 61. Neighbour; stoning or strangling them, unless they gave them up to Nabuchodonosor’s officers. verse 5. Calmet.
According to the law of Moses they did to them what they maliciously intended to do to their neighbor. They put them to death, and the innocent blood was saved the same day.
Therefore Helkias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.
And from that day forth, Daniel had a great reputation in the sight of the people.
Verse 64. Forward. By this first prophetical act Daniel acquired fame, ( Worthington.) which he retained till the death of Astyages. Maldon. Menochius.