Tucked away within the apocryphal additions to the Book of Daniel is a gripping narrative that plays out like a divine courtroom drama. It is a story of virtue under attack, of corrupt authority, and of inspired wisdom that cuts through deceit to reveal the truth. The Story of Susanna is more than just a brief episode. It is a profound exploration of justice, integrity, and the vindication of the innocent. While it may not appear in all Bibles, its influence on Jewish and Christian thought, law, and art is undeniable.

This short but powerful narrative introduces the hero Daniel, not as a dream interpreter in the king’s court, but as a young, spirit-filled advocate for justice. Indeed, the story pits his divine wisdom against the entrenched, corrupt power of two community elders. It is a tale that champions the cause of the falsely accused and serves as a timeless warning against the abuse of power.

What Are the Apocryphal Additions to Daniel?

For many readers, the Book of Daniel ends with the twelfth chapter. However, in Catholic and Orthodox Old Testaments, the book is, in fact, longer. These additional sections, often grouped with the Apocrypha Bible Meaning, appear in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

There are three main “Additions to Daniel”:

1. The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy Children: This passage appears in Daniel 3, within the story of the fiery furnace. It includes the prayer of Azariah (Abednego) and the song of praise the three sing while walking unharmed in the flames.
2. The Story of Susanna: This narrative often appears at the beginning of Daniel in Greek texts, effectively serving as chapter 1 (or chapter 13 in the Catholic Vulgate tradition).
3. Bel and the Dragon: This section, placed at the end of the book (or as chapter 14), contains two stories where Daniel exposes the fraud of pagan priests and their idols, Bel and a great “dragon” or serpent.

The Story of Susanna, therefore, is not a standalone book but an integral part of the larger Book of Daniel for a significant portion of the Christian world.

The Plot: A Conspiracy Against the Innocent

The Story of Susanna takes place in Babylon, among the Jewish exiles. The narrative introduces a pious and beautiful woman named Susanna, married to a wealthy community leader named Joakim. Their home is a center of the community. Its large garden is where two newly appointed elders, acting as judges, often hold court.

The Two Elders and Their Vile Intent

Lust consumes these two elders, respected for their age and position. They secretly watch her as she walks in her husband’s garden each day. Their shared, unspoken desire eventually leads them to form a conspiracy.

One hot day, Susanna decides to bathe in the garden, believing she is alone after dismissing her attendants. The two elders, who had hidden themselves, spring their trap. They confront her with a vile ultimatum: “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. If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your attendants away.”

Susanna’s Choice: Integrity Over Life

Susanna is trapped. She understands the horror of her situation. If she gives in, she violates God’s law. If she refuses, she faces certain death by stoning, as the testimony of two elders would gain acceptance without question.

Her response is, however, one of the story’s great moments of integrity. She cries out, “I am trapped whatever I do. For if I do this, it is death for me; and if I do not do it, I shall not escape your hands. I choose not to do it; I will fall into your hands, guiltless, rather than sin in the sight of the Lord.”

With that, she cries for help. The elders, in turn, shout their accusations. The community rushes in, and the two men deliver their fabricated story. They claim they caught Susanna in the act of adultery with a young man who then escaped. Because of the elders’ esteemed position, the assembly believes them.

The Unjust Trial

The next day, the community holds a formal trial. Susanna, weeping, comes before the people. The two elders, with full hypocrisy, lay their hands on her head to deliver their false testimony. Susanna, in her despair, “looked up to heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord.”

The assembly condemns her to death based on the perjured evidence. However, as they lead her away to her execution, Susanna prays aloud, “O eternal God, you know what is secret… you know that they have borne false witness against me. And now I am to die, though I have done none of the wicked things that they have maliciously fabricated against me!”

The Hero Emerges: The Wisdom of Daniel

Just as all hope seems lost, God intervenes. The text says that God “stirred up the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel.” This is the first appearance of Daniel. It frames him as a figure of divine wisdom and justice before he is ever known as a visionary.

“Are You Such Fools, O Sons of Israel?”

Daniel shouts into the crowd, “I want no part in shedding this woman’s blood!” He admonishes the people for their gullibility: “Are you such fools, O sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts?”

His sudden, authoritative intervention stops the entire procession. He commands the people to return to the place of judgment, declaring, “They have borne false witness against her!”

The Cross-Examination: Under Which Tree?

Daniel, now in control of the proceedings, employs a brilliant legal strategy. He separates the two elders, ensuring they cannot hear one another’s testimony.

He calls the first elder and says, “You who have grown old in wickedness… If you really saw this woman, tell me, under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?”

The elder, forced to invent a detail, replies, “Under a mastic tree.”

Daniel dismisses him, knowing the lie is exposed. He then calls the second elder and puts the same question to him: “Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?”

The second elder, unaware of his partner’s answer, replies, “Under an evergreen oak.”

Justice Delivered

The contradiction is total and undeniable. Consequently, the entire assembly erupts, praising God. Daniel’s cross-examination has exposed the conspiracy for all to see. The crowd turns on the two elders who, “according to the law of Moses,” face death for bearing false witness.

Susanna is, therefore, saved, and her reputation, along with that of her family, is restored. The story concludes by noting, “From that day on, Daniel had a great reputation among the people.”

Major Themes in the Story of Susanna

This brief narrative packs in theological and ethical weight. It explores several crucial themes that resonated deeply with ancient audiences and continue to do so today.

1. Divine Justice and the Vindication of the Innocent

At its core, this is a story of faith. Specifically, Susanna trusts in God, and God provides a deliverer. Indeed, it is a powerful message of hope for any who are falsely accused or oppressed by corrupt systems. It assures the faithful that even when human justice fails, divine justice will ultimately prevail. This theme of God’s intervention on behalf of the faithful is a common thread in apocryphal literature, a theme also seen in The Book of Tobit: Lessons in Faith and Providence.

2. Wisdom vs. Corrupt Authority

The story presents a stark contrast between two types of authority. The elders represent established, human authority that has become corrupt, selfish, and deceitful. Daniel, in contrast, represents a new, higher authority based on divine inspiration and wisdom. The story is a revolutionary statement that the authority of age and position is worthless if it is not aligned with truth.

3. A Groundbreaking Legal Precedent

Many scholars see The Story of Susanna as a powerful argument for legal reform. It champions two of the most basic principles of a just legal system:

• The Cross-Examination of Witnesses: Daniel’s separation of the elders is a classic and brilliant example of cross-examination, designed to expose inconsistencies in testimony.
• The Danger of Hasty Judgment: Daniel rebukes the crowd for condemning someone “without examination and without learning the facts.”

The story serves as a biblical precedent against summary judgment and in favor of a thorough, evidence-based process.

4. A Story of Female Integrity

In the ancient world, people often portrayed women in dubious or secondary roles. The Role of Women in Apocryphal Texts is complex, but Susanna stands out. She is a powerful counter-narrative to other figures. Unlike Eve, who is deceived in a garden, Susanna faces temptation in a garden and chooses integrity at the risk of her life. Unlike Potiphar’s wife, who falsely accuses a man, Susanna is, in contrast, a virtuous woman who is falsely accused. She is a model of piety and courage, similar to the heroic protagonist in The Story of Judith: Heroism and Deception in the Apocrypha.

Why Is This Story in the Apocrypha?

The canonical journey of Susanna is a fascinating one. The primary reason for its apocryphal status is its language and origin. It does not appear in the Hebrew or Aramaic Masoretic Text of the Book of Daniel. Instead, it appears in the Septuagint, the Greek translation.

Scholars debate its original language. Some believe scribes composed it in Greek, which would have made it a later addition. Others argue that the clever wordplay in the Greek text (puns on the “mastic tree” and “evergreen oak”) suggests an original Hebrew or Aramaic version that a translator skillfully rendered.

Regardless of its origin, its inclusion in the Septuagint meant that early Christians widely read it, as they used the Septuagint as their Old Testament. St. Jerome included it in the Latin Vulgate, and the Catholic and Orthodox Churches formally affirmed it as canonical.

Protestant reformers in the 16th century, however, prioritized the Hebrew canon for the Old Testament. Since Susanna was not in the Hebrew text, reformers moved it to the “Apocrypha,” a collection of books considered useful for reading but not for establishing doctrine. This is Why Were the Apocryphal Books Removed From the Bible?: A Historical Inquiry.

Authoritative sources, such as the Jewish Encyclopedia, note that while the story was not part of the rabbinic canon, Jewish tradition knew and valued it, influencing later legal and folkloric texts.

The Enduring Legacy of Susanna

The influence of The Story of Susanna extends far beyond theological debates. The dramatic scene of “Susanna and the Elders” became one of the most popular subjects in Renaissance and Baroque art. The story’s potent themes of voyeurism, injustice, and vulnerability drew in countless artists. These included Rembrandt, Tintoretto, Veronese, and most notably Artemisia Gentileschi, who used the theme to explore her own experience as a woman publicly wronged.

For centuries, this story has served as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness. It is a timeless narrative that gives voice to the falsely accused. It also offers hope that truth, armed with divine wisdom, can overcome even the most deeply entrenched systems of corruption. It establishes Daniel as a hero not of political power, but of profound, God-given justice.

Check out the author’s book here: The Apocrypha.