Susanna 
Foreword
Here
is a lesson that not only they who trust in God, do not rely upon Him in vain,
but an example of the great wickedness of the people as a whole to sit in with
a kangaroo court. Agreed that
they turned back for justice, but at the calling of Daniel, to first call them
by their right name, namely, fools. And
how to find respect for Joachim, the husband of Susanna, who being her husband
ought to have known her better, and should have called out against that
kangaroo justice
1.
In
Babylon there dwelt a man called Joacim, and he took a wife whose name was
Susanna, daughter of Chelcias, 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.
2.
Joacim
then was a great and rich man, and he had a beautiful garden adjoining his
house, and the Jews resorted to him because he was more honorable than many
others.
3. In that
year then two judges were appointed of the ancient of the people, of which the
Lord had said; that wickedness came to Babylon by way of the old judges who
thought to govern the people.
4. And
these two kept much at the house of Joacim and all that had a lawsuit came to
them.
5.
Susanna
then after everyone had left, used to walk into her husband's garden, and the
two elders saw her going every day and their lust was inflamed towards her.
6. And
they perverted their minds turning their eyes so they might not look at
heaven, nor remember just judgment, and wounded as they were in their desire
they did not dare show it to each other, ashamed to declare their lust.
7.
And
they watched diligently from day to day to see her, and one day one said to
the other; let us go home for it is dinnertime.
8. So they
parted, and turning back they happen to come to the same place, and asked each
other the cause they acknowledged their lust, then together they appointed a
time so they might find her alone.
9.
And it
came to pass as they watched at a time that she went as before with only two
maids desiring to wash herself in the garden, for it was hot, and there was
no-one there excepting these two elders which had hid themselves.
10.
And she
said to her maids' "Bring me oil and washing material and shut the garden
doors that I may wash myself". And
they did as was commanded them, and themselves went out through a private
door.
11. Then
the maids having gone, the elders rose up and ran to her saying; "Behold,
the garden doors are shut so that no man can see us, and we are in love with
you, consent therefore to us and lay with us.
12.
And if
you will not, we will bear witness against you saying that a young man was
with you, for which reason you sent the maids from you."
13. Then
Susanna said; "On every side I am in trouble, for if I do this thing it
is death to me, and if I do not, I cannot escape their hands, it then is
better for me to fall into your hands and not do it, than to sin in the sight
of God."
14. And
with that Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders cried out
against her, and one ran to open the garden door, while the servants hearing
the cry came into the garden by the private door to see what was done to her.
15. And the
elders having declared the matter, the servants were greatly ashamed for there
was never such a report of Susanna.
16. And the
next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joachim, the elders
came also full of foul imagination against Susanna to put her to death.
17. And
they said before the people sent for Susanna, Joachim's wife.
And she came with her father and mother, her children and all her
kindred.
18.
Susanna
now was a very delicate woman and beautiful to behold, and these wicked men
commanded to uncover her face so they might be filled with her beauty, therefore
her friends, and all that saw her, wept.
19. Then
the two elders stood up in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon
her head, while Susanna looked up to heaven, her heart trusting in the Lord.
20.
And the
elders said, "As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with
two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.
Then a young man, who was hid there, came to her and lay with her,
while we stood in the corner of the garden seeing this wickedness, and we ran
to them.
21.
The man
however we could not hold, for he was stronger, and opening the gate he ran
out, but taking this woman we asked who the young man was, but she would not
tell us, these things we testify."
22.
And the
assembly believed them since they were elders and judges of the people, and so
they commanded her to death.
23. Then
Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said.
"O everlasting God who knows the secrets of all things before they
be, Thou know O Lord that they have bore false witness against me, and behold,
now I must die while I never did such a thing as these men have maliciously
invented against me."
24.
And the
Lord heard her voice, and when she was being led to be put to death, the Lord
raised up the spirit of a young man whose name was Daniel, and he cried out
with a loud voice; "I am clear of the blood of this woman."
25.
Then
all the people turned to him and said; "What do you mean by these
words?" So he stood in the
midst of them and said; "You are fools you sons of Israel that without
examining of any knowledge of the truth you have condemned a daughter of
Israel, return again to the place of judgment for they have bore false witness
against her."
26.
Then
all the people turned again in haste and the elders said to him; "Come
sit among us and show us, seeing God has given you the honor of an
elder."
27.
Then
Daniel said to them, "Put these two apart one from the other and I will
examine them". So when they
were set apart, he called one and said;
28. "O
you that have waxed old in wickedness now the sins which you have committed
previously are come to light, for you have pronounced false judgment,
condemning the innocent, and let the guilty go free, while the Lord has said
that you shall not slay the innocent nor the righteous.
29. Now
then if you have seen her, tell me under what tree did you see them?"
And he answered, "Under a mastic tree".
And Daniel said; "Very well, you have lied against your own head,
for even now the angel of God has received the sentence of God to cut you in
halves."
30. So he
put him aside and commanded the other one to be brought, and said to him.
"O you seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you,
and lust perverted your heart, thus have you dealt with the daughters of
Israel, and for fear they consented with you, but the daughter of Judah would
not abide with your wickedness.
31. Now
tell me under what tree did you see them accompany each other?”
And he answered, "Under a Holm tree".
Then Daniel said to him; "You also have lied against your own
head, for the angel of God awaits you with the sword to be cut in halves that
he may destroy you."
32. And
with that the assembly cried out with a loud voice and praised God who saves
them that trust in Him, and they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had
convicted them of false witness by their own mouth.
33. And
according to the law of Moses they did to them in such sort as they
maliciously intended to do to their neighbor, and they put them to death.
34.
Thus
the innocent blood was saved that same day; therefore Chelcias and his wife
praised God for their daughter Susanna with Joachim her husband and all the
kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.
35. From that day forward Daniel was held in great reputation in the sight of the people.
