Susanna

There dwelt a man in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

and he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

And the same year there were appointed two of the elders of the people to be judges, concerning whom the Lord had spoken when He said that iniquity went forth from Babylon through elder-judges who were thought worthy to govern the people.

And cases from other cities also came before them for decision.

Now these men observing a woman of beautiful form, the wife of one of their own brother-Israelites, who was called Susanna, daughter of Helkias, wife of Joakim, as she walked about in her husband’s garden at eventide,

were inflamed with love for her;

and they perverted their mind and turned away their eyes so as neither to look toward Heaven nor to be mindful of right decisions.

And though both were smitten by desire of her, yet each concealed from the other the evil that possessed them in regard to her; neither was the woman aware of this matter.

And as soon as it was daylight they came stealthily, evading each other, hurrying to see which should be first to show himself to her and to speak with her.

And behold! she was taking her walk according to her wont and the one elder had barely arrived, when lo! the other came up. Then the one began to cross-examine his fellow, demanding, ‘Why art thou gone forth so very early, leaving me behind?’

With that they made confession each to the other of his painful state.

Then said the one to the other, Let us repair to her; and having agreed together on a plan, they made advance to her and sought to constrain her.

But the daughter of Judah answered them, I know that if I do this, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape from your hands.

Yet it is better for me not to do this and to fall into your hands rather than to sin before the Lord.

So these transgressors of the law turned away, vowing vengeance and planning together how they might put her to death. And they came into the synagogue of the city in which they dwelt, where were assembled in council all the Israelites of the place.

Then the two elders and judges arose and said, Send for Susanna, daughter of Helkias, the same who is the wife of Joakim. And straightway they summoned her.

And when the woman appeared with her father and mother, her bondmen and her bondwomen to the number of five hundred also presented themselves, as well as the four little children of Susanna.

Now the woman was very delicate.

Yet the lawless pair ordered that she should be unveiled, that they might sate themselves with the beauty of her attraction.

Whereat all her attendants and all who knew her began to weep.

Then arose the elders and judges and laid their hands upon her head.

But her heart was stayed upon the Lord her God, and looking upward she wept within herself, saying,O Lord the eternal God, who knowest all things before they come into being, Thou knowest that I have not done what these lawless men maliciously allege against me. And the Lord hearkened to her entreaty.

Then the two elders affirmed, We were walking about in her husband’s garden,

and as we came round the stadion, we saw this woman dallying with a man; we stood still and observed them consorting together,

but they were not aware that we were standing by. Then when each of us had confirmed the other, we said, We must find out who these persons are.

So we came forward and her we recognized; but the young man escaped us being concealed by a mask.

And having arrested her, we put the question, Who is the fellow?

but she refused to tell us who he was. These things we declare as witnesses. And the whole synagogue believed them inasmuch as they were elders and judges of the people.

And as she was being led away to be destroyed, behold! there came an angel of the Lord; and as it had been commanded him, the angel bestowed a spirit of discernment upon a young man, this being Daniel.

Then separating the crowd Daniel stationed himself in the midst of them and said, Are ye so foolish, O sons of Israel, that without examination and knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel to die?

Now therefore take these men apart from each other, that I may cross-examine them.

And when they were separated, Daniel said to the synagogue: Now consider not that these men are elders nor say, They can never be false; but I will examine them with reference to that which is suggested to me.

And he summoned one of the two, so they brought forward the elder before the young man. Then said Daniel to him: Hearken, hearken, thou ancient of evil days! now have overtaken thee thy sins which thou hast committed in time past.

Being trusted to hear and to decide capital cases, thou hast both condemned the innocent and hast acquitted the guilty, although the Lord saith: ‘The innocent and the righteous slay thou not.’

Now therefore under what tree and at what sort of place in the garden hast thou seen them together? The impious man answered, Under a mastick tree.

Then said the youth, Right well hast thou borne false witness against thine own soul; for the angel of the Lord will cleave thy soul this day.

Then removing the one he gave command to bring the other before him, to whom he said: Wherefore is the seed that is in thee become perverted as that of Sidon and not as that of Judah? beauty has beguiled thee, base passion!

Even so were ye wont to do with daughters of Israel, who through their fear companied with you; but a daughter of Judah scorned to endure your pestilent licence.

Now therefore tell me, Under what tree and in which spot of the enclosure didst thou detect them consorting together? Who answered, Under a holm tree.

Then said Daniel, Thou sinner! even now the angel of the Lord is standing with drawn sword, till the people shall make an end of thee, that he may cut thee to pieces.

Then the whole synagogue shouted aloud in praise of the young man because from their own mouth he had proved them both to be confessedly false witnesses. And they dealt with them according as the Law prescribes, doing to them just as they maliciously intended against their sister.

So when they had gagged them, they led them out and hurled them into a chasm; then the angel of the Lord cast fire in the midst of them. And thus was innocent blood kept safe on that day.

For this cause the young men are beloved of Jacob by reason of their sincerity.And as for us, let us watch over young men that they may become men of worth, for so young men will be God-fearing, and there shall be in them a spirit of knowledge and discernment for ever and ever.