Last week, we looked at the Prayer of Azariah and the Hymn of the Three Young Men, which are placed between Daniel 3:23 and 3:24. Today, we study the story of Susanna, which becomes Daniel, chapter 13.
Susanna
Susanna is the story of a woman, whom two “dirty old men” accused of committing adultery. What makes this account even worse is the two accusers are elders in the Jewish community at Babylon.
Many scholars do not believe the story to be historical. However, in his opposition to Jerome wanting to rid Susanna from the book of Daniel, Rufinus (340-410 AD) responded: “The whole of the history of Susanna, which gave a lesson of chastity to the churches of God, has by him [Jerome] been cut out, thrown aside, and dismissed” (Apology Against Jerome, Book 2, 33).
Hippolytus (pastor at Rome, 170-235 AD) cited Susanna as a model for Christian living, as did Methodius of Tyre (pastor and martyr, d. 311 AD).
13:1 There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. 2 And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. 3 Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Joakim was very rich, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house; and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honored of them all.
“Joakim”: means “Yahweh will establish.” He is a wealthy and influential patriarch of the Jewish Diaspora in Babylon.
“Susanna”: means “lily,” a flower symbolic of feminine beauty (Song of Songs 2:2).
“Hilkiah”: means “Yahweh is my portion.”
“spacious garden”: Greek, paradeisos, a “paradise.” This lets us know the garden is a large area kept in a natural state of beauty. The impression given to the reader is to bring us back to the original paradise, the garden. Susanna in the garden echoes Eve in the original paradise, which vs. 7 will bring out further, where sh went “into… [the] garden to walk” (see Genesis 3:8). As we will learn later, unlike Eve, she will resist the temptation to sin.
- What do we learn of Susanna and her family?
5 In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: “Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.” 6 These men were frequently at Joakim’s house, and all who had suits at law came to them [to whom all brought their cases].
- What do we find out about these elders?
7 When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband’s garden to walk. 8 The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, and they began to desire her. 9 And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments. 10 Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their distress, 11 for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to possess her. 12 And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her.
- In what three ways did the elders fail in their duties? (vs. 9)
“watched eagerly”: Greek, paratareo. Psalm 37:12 (LXX) uses this word and brings out well the result of such eagerly watching: “The wicked person plots against [paratareo] the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.”
13 They said to each other, “Let us go home, for it is mealtime.” 14 And when they went out, they parted from each other. But turning back, they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when they could find her alone.
- What do they choose to do when each find out the other also lusts for Susanna?
15 Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very hot. 16 And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and were watching her. 17 She said to her maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I may bathe.” 18 They did as she said, shut the garden doors, and went out by the side doors to bring what they had been commanded; and they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.
19 When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said: 20 “Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love with you; so give your consent, and lie with us. 21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away.”
Leviticus 20:10: If a man commits adultery with a married woman—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.
Deuteronomy 22:22: If a man is caught having sexual relations with another man’s wife, both the man who had relations with her and the woman must die.
Deuteronomy 17:6: The one condemned to die is to be executed on the testimony of two or three witnesses. No one is to be executed on the testimony of only a single witness.
- What bind are the elders putting Susanna into?
22 Susanna sighed deeply, and said, “I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands. 23 I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”
- What two reasons motivate Susanna to act as she does?
24 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her. 25 And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. 26 When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. 27 And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.
- What did the elders do?
- Why did the servants feel great shame?
28 The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna put to death. 29 They said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim.” 30 So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children, and all her kindred.
31 Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in appearance. 32 As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that they might feed upon her beauty. 33 But her family and friends and all who saw her wept.
- Why do you think the text mentions Susanna being veiled? What is this supposed to convey to us about her character?
34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head. 35 And she, weeping, looked up toward heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. 36 The elders said, “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. 37 Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her. 38 We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to them. 39 We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out. 40 So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify.”
“laid their hands”: A formal prelude to the execution of a criminal by stoning (Leviticus 24:14).
- Unlike the elders, where does Susanna look? What does this contrast tell us?
41 The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and judges; and they condemned her to death.
- What is the verdict? Why?
42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O eternal God, who dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come to be, 43 thou knowest that these men have borne false witness against me. And now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly invented against me!”
44 The Lord heard her cry. 45 And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel; 46 and he cried with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.”
- What did Susanna do?
- How did God respond?
47 All the people turned to him, and said, “What is this that you have said?” 48 Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, “Are you such fools, you sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts? 49 Return to the place of judgment. For these men have borne false witness against her.”
- From a practical standpoint, why did Daniel challenge the verdict as he did?
50 Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, “Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you that right.” 51 And Daniel said to them, “Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.”
52 When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, “You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which you have committed in the past, 53 pronouncing unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and letting the guilty go free, though the Lord said, ‘Do not put to death an innocent and righteous person.’ 54 Now then, if you really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under a mastic tree.” 55 And Daniel said, “Very well! You have lied against your own head, for the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will immediately cut you in two.”
“mastic… cut”: Here, the Greek uses to similar sounding words. “Mastic” (schinos) and “cut” (schizo) let the hearer realize that the elder naming the wrong tree is what will cut him down. Since the “wordplay” is also meant to convey meaning, a translation of “clove tree” and “cleave” could serve the text’s purpose here.
56 Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you and lust has perverted your heart. 57 This is how you both have been dealing with the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure your wickedness. 58 Now then, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under an evergreen oak.” 59 And Daniel said to him, “Very well! You also have lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two, that he may destroy you both.”
“offspring of Canaan”: Canaan: The Canaanites were well-known for their sexual depravity (Leviticus 18:1-30).
- What does vs. 57 tell us about these two elders with other women?
“oak… saw”: In this cross examination, the Greek also uses similar sounding words. “Oak” (prinos) and “saw” (prio) let the hearer realize in this account that the other elder naming the wrong tree will also saw him down. Since the “wordplay” also conveys meaning in this second instance, a translation of “yew tree” and “hew” could serve the text’s purpose here.
60 Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. 61 And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; 62 and they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbor; acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day.
63 And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did Joakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in her. 64 And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the people.
Susanna, a woman, can be represent the Church (feminine gender, “the bride of Christ”) and Daniel, her deliverer, as Christ. The two elders are like the powers of darkness, which seek to lead God’s people astray.
The story of Susanna highlights how trusting the Lord can bring eternal vindication and rescue from the schemes of the godless.
Lutheran Tie-Ins
In Luther’s Small Catechism, he included woodcuts (which were stamped on the paper) to illustrate the Ten Commandments. The 8th Commandment (do not bear false witness) included an image of Susanna being accused by the two elders. The caption read: “The figure is taken from the prophet Daniel, chapter 13, and also stands in the Apocrypha, in the part belonging to Daniel.” Note: The picture to the right is not from the Small Catechism.
In the 1540s, Andreas Musculus (1514-1581) wrote, O Starker Gott, Herre Zebaoth, sung on various saint days in the Church. We used this hymn for about 100 years. Among the 35 saints were Susanna.
| German | English Translation |
| 25. Durch den Glauben
kam Susanna davon von den Lügnern zween alten Buben die falsch gezeugten in ihrn höchsten Nöthen tät sie Gott retten schickt selbst hin den Boten und ließ die falschen Richter töten. |
25. By faith Susanna found deliverance
From the plot of two wicked men, Who would abuse her. But ere they so used her, God did them prevent, His messenger he sent Disproved and put to death the false accusers. |
This shows us Susanna was one of the saints we remembered and celebrated in the Lutheran Church.
Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Article 21, “The Invocation of the Saints,” paragraph 36:
It is indeed helpful to hear how the saints administered public affairs, how they underwent calamities and dangers, how holy individuals came to the aid of kings in times of great danger, how they taught the gospel and did battle with heretics. Examples of God’s mercy are also beneficial, as when we see Peter forgiven for his denial [John 21]; when we see Cyprian forgiven for having been a sorcerer; when we see Augustine while sick steadfastly affirm the power of faith, that God hears the prayers of believers.
- What calamity and danger did Susanna undergo?
- What example of God’s mercy do we find with Susanna?
We don’t have enough time to begin and finish Bel and the Snake. We’ll go over that next week.
