Book of Susanna

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Niemand
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Book of Susanna

Post by Niemand »

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Intro
Falsely accused of sexual impropriety, will Daniel be able to save Susanna?

Years ago, an atheist told me he didn't like the Gospels in the New Testament because they read too much like novels. I don't entirely agree, but I can see where he was coming from. There are other stories in the Bible which are a bit like novels, maybe Jonah might be another, or Job.

The Apocrypha contains several books which are like novels. The Book of Susanna would be one of them. It reads a little like detective fiction. Susanna is about truth, virtue and false accusations, and the harm they can do.

Susanna is another story that appears in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), in the Book of Daniel, but not the Hebrew version. Roman Catholics and Orthodox include it in the OT, and some Protestants put it in the Apocrypha including the original KJV. Because the book contains puns in Greek, some doubt it ever had a Hebrew original.

Susanna is not much read now, but it is highly influential in one respect. Ever met a woman called Susanna, Suzanne or a Susan etc? Well, this is where her name comes from. Tobit comes a distant second perhaps, because it introduced the name Toby/Tobias. Susanna was also a popular subject for Renaissance artists, because it gave them yet another excuse to paint a nude woman.

Susanna (KJV) audiobook 9 mins.
Plot
Here's the plot of Susanna (contains spoilers)
https://www.abibleaday.com/bible-books/susanna/
Susanna focuses on the pious life and crooked trial of the righteous Susanna, wrongly accused of adultery and sentenced to die. A young Daniel plays a pivotal role in her story.

As the people march Susanna off to her execution, Daniel receives a revelation from God. Then Daniel boldly interrupts the procession and loudly proclaims her innocence.

Now having the people’s attention, Daniel then proceeds to discredit the accuracy of the two corrupt judges who gave false testimony against Susanna.

In the end, the two men who lied about her are executed, Susanna’s life is spared and her dignity restored, and Daniel is celebrated.
A more detailed explanation via Wikipedia.
A fair Hebrew wife named Susanna was falsely accused by lecherous voyeurs. As she bathes in her garden, having sent her attendants away, two elders, having previously said goodbye to each other, bump into each other again when they spy on her bathing. The two men realize they both lust for Susanna. When she makes her way back to her house, they accost her, demanding she have sexual intercourse with them. When she refuses, they have her arrested, claiming that the reason she sent her maids away was to be alone as she was having intercourse with a young man under a tree.

She refuses to be blackmailed and is arrested and about to be put to death for adultery when the young Daniel interrupts the proceedings, shouting that the elders should be questioned to prevent the death of an innocent.
There is thus some overlap with stories such as Bathsheba and Daniel, or Potiphar's Wife and Joseph. There are also the themes of the abuse of power and what false accusations can do to people.

Spoiler: Daniel is able to expose the lies of the two elders because they can't agree on which tree Susanna was supposedly doing the nasty under. This leads to Greek puns.
In the Greek text, the names of the trees cited by the elders form puns with the sentences given by Daniel. The first says they were under a mastic tree (ὑπο σχίνον, hypo schinon), and Daniel says that an angel stands ready to cut (σχίσει, schisei) him in two. The second says they were under an evergreen oak tree (ὑπο πρίνον, hypo prinon), and Daniel says that an angel stands ready to saw (πρίσαι, prisai) him in two.
--
This is part of my ongoing series on Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical works:

1 Esdras inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1343974

2 Esdras (the most relevant book in the Apocrypha?) inc audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1344302

1 Maccabees
viewtopic.php?t=69454

2 Maccabees, Nephi and the prayer for the dead
viewtopic.php?p=1347024

3 Maccabees
viewtopic.php?t=69496

Tobit including audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1341501#p1341501

Apocryphal additions to Esther including audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1343414

Bel and the Dragon (quoted in full, KJV; inc audiobook link)
viewtopic.php?t=69261

Prayer of Azarias and Hymn of the Three Children (quoted in full KJV, including audiobook link)
viewtopic.php?p=1341611

Book of Judith
viewtopic.php?t=69402

Wisdom of Solomon
viewtopic.php?t=69469

The Book of Sirach, Ecclesiasticus, the NT, the BOM and the other Jesus
viewtopic.php?t=69412

Prayer of Mannases (aka Mannaseh; quoted in full KJV, inc. audiobook link)
viewtopic.php?t=69263

Psalm 151 (quoted in full, NRSV)
viewtopic.php?t=63875

Epistle to the Laodiceans (NT, quoted in full Wycliffe's translation, )
viewtopic.php?t=64025

The Book of Odes - this is an Eastern Orthodox work of limited interest, but included for the sake of completeness.
viewtopic.php?t=69470
Last edited by Niemand on January 30th, 2023, 3:48 pm, edited 8 times in total.

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Niemand
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Posts: 13997

Re: Book of Susanna

Post by Niemand »

Read Susanna (KJV) online
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Susanna-Chapter-1/

What can we learn from Susanna
I believe Susanna is a cute bit of fiction and not authentic, but it is still a good parable/fable.

In these times, truth is at a premium. If you do not agree to do what the Elders (powerful people) do, then you can wind up in serious trouble. If you do what those in power want you to do, you can end up in other kinds of trouble.

In the west, we now live in a society where "facts" are what those in power decide that they are. They even have so called "fact checkers" to ensure we follow. Those who do not agree are accused of "misinformation" or "conspiracy theory".

When Susanna pleaded her innocence and Daniel helped her, they were both fighting liars with power. If Susanna had lost, then she could have faced massive penalties. She had already been hauled up in front of a court and been publicly humiliated. Daniel required God's help to clear Susanna's name, but he could only do so because the law court allowed fair trials.

On the flipside of this argument, we also see many people who are falsely accused of X, Y and Z and suffer for it. Often this is by people who should know better. It is not always because the accusers desire something, but also because they believe false rumours. I wonder how many people would have said something like, "I always knew Susanna was really like that!"

So short version: don't be like the elders, be like Daniel and fight the cause of the innocent.

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Niemand
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Posts: 13997

Re: Book of Susanna

Post by Niemand »

Latest Apocrypha
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viewtopic.php?p=1348046

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Niemand
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 13997

Re: Book of Susanna

Post by Niemand »

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User avatar
Niemand
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 13997

Re: Book of Susanna

Post by Niemand »

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Niemand
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 13997

Re: Book of Susanna

Post by Niemand »

An LDS reading of Susanna included within the Book of Daniel (both KJV) from Restored Ephraim productions. (Total 1 hr 34 mins)
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