Attempted Seduction of the Virtuous Susanna.

Dwelling in Babylon was a man whose name was Joakim. He had married the daughter of Hilkiah, named Susanna, a GOD-fearing woman of remarkable beauty. Her parents were devout Jews who had raised their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was a wealthy individual, and adjoining his home was a lovely garden. He was visited frequently by the Jews because they greatly respected him above everyone else.

       During that year there were appointed two elders of the people to serve as judges. In their regard THE LORD had said, "Wickedness has arisen in Babylon through the elders designated to govern the people in the role of judges." Those two elders were often present at Joakim's house, and people would come to them there for a hearing of their legal cases.

       The people would depart at midday, and then Susanna would stroll through her husband's garden. Each day the two elders would see her as she was entering the garden, and walking around, and they began to lust for her. They ignored the light of reason, averting their eyes from heaven and forsaking their duty to act justly. Although overcome with passion for her, they did not admit this failing to each other, for they were ashamed to reveal the lust they harbored to seduce her. Day by day they waited eagerly to catch a glimpse of her.

       One day they said to each other, "Let us return to our homes. It is time for lunch." So they parted and headed off, but both then returned. When they encountered each other and asked the reason, they admitted their lustful desires. From that time they plotted to find an opportunity to surprise her when she was alone.

       While they were waiting for a favorable opportunity, Susanna entered the garden for her usual stroll, accompanied by two maids; and inasmuch as it was quite warm, she decided to bathe there. No one else was present, aside from the two elders who were watching her from their concealed hiding place. She instructed the maids, "Bring me some oil and soap and then shut the garden doors so that I may bathe." The maids followed her instructions: they closed the doors and left the garden by a side entrance to obtain what she had requested them to bring, unaware of the presence of the elders who remained in hiding.

       No sooner had the maids departed than the two elders sprang up and ran over to Susanna. "Look," they pleaded with her, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us. We are burning with desire for you; consent and give yourself to us. Should you refuse, we shall swear under oath that you were here with a young man in the garden, and that this was the reason why you sent the maids away."

       Susanna then cried out in anguish, "No matter what I decide, I am trapped. If I yield, it means death for me. If I refuse, I cannot evade your hands. But I choose not to succumb to your evil desire. I much prefer to remain innocent and fall into your power than to commit a sin against GOD's law."

       Then Susanna began to scream, and the two elders shouted against her, as one of them ran to open the garden doors. On hearing the noisy uproar in the garden, the people in the house rushed in through the side entrance to see what was happening. When the elders told their story, the servants were stunned, for no such allegation had ever been raised against Susanna.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 27