Susanna (I)

I. SUSANNA, Daughter of Chelcias, and Wife of Joacim, of the Tribe of Judah.¹ She dwelt at Babylon, being carry’d thither in Captivity with her Husband, probably at the same Time as Daniel; that is, in the Year of the World 3398, before Christ 602, before the vulgar Era 606. Susanna was a Woman of an extraordinary Beauty, and of as much Piety and Fear of God. The captive Jews that were then at Babylon, us’d to assemble at Joacim’s House, for the Determination of their Affairs; and every Year they appointed two Judges, for the Decision of such Difficulties as might arise. Every Day about Noon Susanna had a Custom to take a Walk in her Husband’s Garden. The Judges whom we mention’d, who were at Joacim’s House, seeing her go into the Garden, conceived a violent Passion for her. They continued for some time without imparting their Desires to each other; but, at last, having both met in the same Place, to watch for an Opportunity of seeing Susanna, they discover’d their Inclinations to each other, and agreed upon Methods of surprizing her alone in the Garden. They went therefore and hid themselves; and Susanna coming in, and intending to bath herself, she sent her Maids into the House, to fetch Perfumes and such other Things.

Then the two Judges ran to Susanna, own’d their Passion, and threaten’d, if she would not consent to gratify them, that they would accuse her of meeting a young Man in the Garden, and of entertaining herself with him. Susanna fetch’d a deep Sigh, and told them; I see nothing but Danger on both Sides; for if I should do what you desire me, I am a dead Woman; and if I do it not, I cannot escape out of your Hands. But it is better to fall into your Hands, and be innocent, than to sin against the Lord. She then began to cry² out as loud as she could, and the old Men at the same time cry’d out against her; and one of them ran to the Door of the Garden, and open’d it. The People flock’d thither, and the two Judges telling them, that they had surprized Susanna with her Gallant; all the Servants of Joacim’s House were much amazed at it, as having never before observed any such thing of Susanna.

The Day following, the People being assembled at Joacim’s as usual, the two Judges sent to fetch Susanna, that she might appear before them. She came, accompany’d by her Father, Mother, Children, and all her Family. Then the two Judges stood up, and putting their Hands upon her Head, they testify’d, that they had seen her in the Garden with a young Man, and that they had surprized them in the very Act; that endeavouring to apprehend the Man, he made his Escape from them, but they secur’d Susanna; and confirm’d this Accusation by an Oath. All the Assembly gave Credit to them, as being Elders and Judges of the People, and Susanna was condemned to Death. She address’d herself to God, call’d him to witness her Innocence, and intreated him to make it appear.

The Lord heard her Prayers; and as they were going with her to Execution, a young Man, named Daniel, call’d out with a loud Voice, saying; I am innocent of the Blood of this Woman. Upon this they all stop’d, and Daniel upbraided them with their Credulity, and with making so slight an Enquiry into so weighty an Affair. Return, says he, and try her over again, for they have born false witness against her. When the People were come back to Joacim’s House, Daniel said; Separate the Elders from each other, and let me examine them. After this was done, when the first came to be examin’d, Daniel ask’d him; Under what Tree did you see ‘em confer together? He answer’d,³ Under a Mastick-tree. Daniel said to him; Your Lye is ready to fall upon your own Head, for the Angel of the Lord will quickly saw you in two. Then the other Elder came, to whom he put the same Question. He answer’d, I saw them under an Holm-tree. Daniel told him, he should quickly receive the Reward of his Calumny, for the Angel of the Lord was ready to cut him in two in the Middle. Then all the People shouted for Joy, and made the two Elders suffer the same Penalty as they were going to inflict upon Susanna; that is, they took them forth and stoned them.

The History we have now related is not read in the Hebrew of Daniel, but only in the Greek. Many heretofore have disputed its Canonicalness, pretending it was only a pious Fable, invented as a Sample of a chaste and loyal Spouse. Julius Africanus wrote against the Truth of this History; but Origen⁴ wrote a good Defence of it. And even St. Jerom, who in some Places is not very favourable to it,⁵ and proceeds so far as to censure it as a meer Fable, in other Places says, that he only gave the Opinions of others; and that not only the Greeks and Latins, but also the Syrians and Egyptians, received it and admitted it as Scripture⁶. See our Preface to Daniel, and the Article DANIEL. And as to the Objection which is drawn from the Allusions between the Words SCHINON and SCHISEI,

PRINON and PRISAI, see these Words under their several Articles, and the marginal Note a little before.

Lyran. Salian. Delr. alii.Several Interpreters have thought, that these two Judges or Elders, who were thus convicted of Forgery by Daniel, were Ahab and Zedekiah, false Prophets of Babylon, whom King Nebuchadnezzar caus’d to be roasted in the Fire for their Jer. xxix. 21, 22.Debaucheries: Whom the King of Babylon roasted in the Fire, because they have committed Villany in Israel, and have committed Adultery with their Neighbours Wives. But the History we have now read shews, that Susanna’s Accusers were condemned and put to Death by the People, and very probably stoned, as Susanna was to have been, if Daniel had not defeated their Malice: And the King of Babylon did not intermeddle in this Matter.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages