Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
Chapter 13
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.
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.”
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.
Commentaries
Greek Accounts.
The Hebrew text of Daniel ends in chapter 12. However, when the Old Testament texts were translated into Greek (LXX), these stories, originally written in Hebrew but now translated into Greek, were added to emphasize Daniel’s personality. These stories are popular and serve as examples of effective communication. The lesson they aim to teach is simple, so that any reader or listener at the time could easily understand it.
Susanna and Daniel.
The story of Susanna aims to highlight Daniel’s pure and righteous wisdom. Moreover, it seeks to inspire believers to trust that God does not abandon or forsake those who put their faith in Him, and that, ultimately, the wicked will face irreversible punishment.
Bel or the Fraud Uncovered.
Two other illustrative stories aim to show the vanity of idols. They are essentially two satirical sketches: one against those who rely on man-made gods (1-22), and the other against divinity itself (23-27). Daniel faces danger for revealing false idol worship, but the living God he trusts in does not abandon him (28-40), so much so that the idolaters themselves come to recognize the One true God (41f).