Daniel

GREEK ACCOUNTS

Susanna and Daniel

There lived in Babylon a man named Joakim,

who was married to a very beautiful, God-fearing woman named Susanna, Hilkiah’s daughter,

whose pious parents had raised her in the law of Moses.

A wealthy man and highly respected by all the Jews, Joakim was often visited by the Jews at his house, which adjoined a garden.

That year, two elders of the people were appointed as judges, in whom this word of the Lord came true: “Wickedness has come forth from Babylon, through the elders appointed judges, who were supposed to govern the people.”

These men often visited Joakim’s house, and everyone with legal disputes used to come to them.

After the people left at noon, Susanna would go for a walk in her husband’s garden.

The two old men started to desire her as they watched her enter the garden each day.

Forgetting the calls of justice and virtue, their desire grew stronger, as they made no effort to look toward heaven.

Although both shared the same passion for her, they hid it from each other,

because they were ashamed to reveal their lustful thoughts.

But they kept watching her, day after day.

One day, before lunch, they parted, saying to each other: “Let us go home, for it is mealtime.” So off they went, in different directions.

But both turned back, and when they came face to face again, each was obliged to explain his actions and admit his lust. They agreed to wait for an opportunity to meet her alone.

One day, as they were waiting for a good time, Susanna entered the garden, as usual, with only two maids. She decided to take a bath because it was a hot day.

Nobody else was there except the two elders watching her from their hiding spot.

She said to the maids: “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors while I bathe.”

Unaware of the elders hiding inside the garden, the two maids did as she asked, shutting the doors and leaving by the side entrance to the house to fetch what she requested.

When the maids left, the two elders hurried to her and said:

“Look, the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us. We want to have you.

If you refuse to cooperate, we will testify that you sent your maids away, because there was a young man here with you.”

Susanna moaned: “Whatever I do, I am trapped. If I give in to your desire, it will be death for me; if I refuse, I won’t escape your persecution.

I would rather be persecuted than sin in the eyes of the Lord.”

Susanna screamed, but the old men yelled, blaming her.

One of them ran and opened the garden doors.

Hearing the commotion in the garden, the household servants rushed in from the side entrance to see what was going on.

They were surprised to hear the elders’ accusations, because nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.

The next day, a meeting took place at Joakim’s house. The two elders arrived, maliciously intent on having Susanna sentenced to death.

They ordered, before everyone: “Send for Susanna, Hilkiah’s daughter, and Joakim’s wife.”

They summoned her, and she came with her parents, children, and all her relatives.

Susanna was a very refined and beautiful woman.

She had her veil on, but the wicked elders ordered her to uncover her face so they could feast on her beauty.

Her family, friends, and everyone who saw her wept.

The two elders rose and placed their hands on her head.

Trusting fully in the Lord, she lifted her tearful eyes toward heaven.

The elders began their accusation: “We were walking in the garden when this woman entered with two maids. She ordered them to close the garden doors and dismissed them.

Then a young man came out of hiding and lay with her.

We were in a corner of the garden and saw this crime from there. We ran to them,

and caught them in the act of embracing. We couldn’t get hold of the man; he was too strong for us. He made a dash for the door, opened it, and ran off.

However, we managed to seize this woman. We asked her who the young man was, but she refused to tell us. This is our statement, and we testify to its truth.”

The assembly believed their word because they were elders and judges of the people. Susanna was condemned to death.

She cried aloud: “Eternal God, nothing is hidden from you; you know all things before they come to be.

You know that these men have testified falsely against me. Would you let me die, though I am not guilty of all their malicious charges?”

The Lord heard her,

and as she was being led to her execution, God stirred the holy spirit within a young man named Daniel.

He shouted: “I will have no part in the death of this woman!”

Those present turned to him: “What did you say?” they all asked.

Standing among them, he said: “Have you become fools, you Israelites, to condemn a daughter of Israel without proper process and clear evidence?

Return to court, for those men have falsely testified against her.”

Hastily, they returned, and the elders said to Daniel: “Come and sit with us, for you also have the gifts given by God to the elders.”

Daniel said to the people: “Separate these two from each other, and I will examine each of them.”

When the two elders were separated from each other, Daniel called one of them and said: “How wicked you have become with age. Your sins from earlier days have accumulated against you, and now it is the time for judgment.

Remember how you have handed down unjust sentences, condemning the innocent and freeing the guilty, even though the Lord has said: ‘The innocent and the just should not be put to death.’

Now, if you truly witnessed the crime, under what tree did you see them do it?”

The elder responded: “Under a mastic tree.” Daniel said: “Your lie will cost you your head. You will be cut in two as soon as the Lord’s angel receives your sentence from God.”

Putting the first one aside, Daniel called the other elder and said to him: “You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, you have long allowed yourself to be corrupted by lust.

This is how you have treated the daughters of Israel, who, out of fear, have yielded to you. But here is a daughter of Judah who would not tolerate your wickedness.

Tell me then, under what tree did you catch them committing the crime?” The answer came: “Under an oak.”

“Your lie has also cost you your head—Daniel said—God’s angel waits to cut you both in two.”

The entire assembly shouted and praised God for helping those who trust in him.

They turned against the two elders who, through Daniel’s efforts, had been convicted by their own words. According to Moses’ law, the punishment the two elders had planned to impose on their neighbor was applied to them.

They were sentenced to death. As a result, the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.

Hilkiah and his wife praised God for the justice given to Susanna, and so did Joakim, her husband, along with all her relatives, for she was not found guilty of any shameful deed.

From that day onward, Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.