In Babylon there was a rich man named Joakim. He took Susanna, a beautiful daughter of Helcias, as wife. Joakim had an orchard near his house.
There were also two wlders who were appointed judges that year of whom the Lord said, "Iniquity came out from the ancient judges that seemed to govern the people." These two men frequented the home of Joakim. They observed that Susanna walked in the orchard at noon; and they wanted to love her. They hid in the orchard.
While in the orchard one noon day, it was very warm. So Susanna told her two maids to get soap, towel and clothes and close the gate of the orchard after them. When she was alone the two elders came to her and wanted to violate her. So she shouted for help. The elders also shouted. One of them opened the gate and charged Susanna with adultery.
The elders said, "As we walked in the orchard, this woman came with two maid-servants. Then she shut the doors of the orchard and sent her maids away. Then a young man came and made love to her. We could not take him because he was stronger than we."
The crowd believe them as they were the elders, and they condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried, "O eternal God who knows hidden things, behold I shall die whereas I am innocent." The Lord heard her voice.
When she was being led to be put to death, the Lord told a young boy, Daniel, to shout, "I am clear from the blood of this woman."
The people said, "What do you mean?"
Daniel said, "Return the judgment for they have borne false witness against her."
So the old men said, "Come, sit with us."
Daniel said, "Separate the two elders far from one another and I will examine them." Then he called one of them and asked, "If you saw her, tell me under what tree did you see them?"
He said, "Under the mastic tree."
Daniel said, "You lie." Then he called the other and asked, "Under what tree did you see them together?"
He said, "Under the holm tree."
Daniel said, "You lie." With that the assembly cried out and they blessed God, who saved them that trust in him. Thye rose upp against the two elders and put them to death. Helchias, Susanna, and Joakim were happy because Susanna was not guilty. when King Astyages died, Cyrus the Persian suled his kingdom.
There were also two wlders who were appointed judges that year of whom the Lord said, "Iniquity came out from the ancient judges that seemed to govern the people." These two men frequented the home of Joakim. They observed that Susanna walked in the orchard at noon; and they wanted to love her. They hid in the orchard.
While in the orchard one noon day, it was very warm. So Susanna told her two maids to get soap, towel and clothes and close the gate of the orchard after them. When she was alone the two elders came to her and wanted to violate her. So she shouted for help. The elders also shouted. One of them opened the gate and charged Susanna with adultery.
The elders said, "As we walked in the orchard, this woman came with two maid-servants. Then she shut the doors of the orchard and sent her maids away. Then a young man came and made love to her. We could not take him because he was stronger than we."
The crowd believe them as they were the elders, and they condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried, "O eternal God who knows hidden things, behold I shall die whereas I am innocent." The Lord heard her voice.
When she was being led to be put to death, the Lord told a young boy, Daniel, to shout, "I am clear from the blood of this woman."
The people said, "What do you mean?"
Daniel said, "Return the judgment for they have borne false witness against her."
So the old men said, "Come, sit with us."
Daniel said, "Separate the two elders far from one another and I will examine them." Then he called one of them and asked, "If you saw her, tell me under what tree did you see them?"
He said, "Under the mastic tree."
Daniel said, "You lie." Then he called the other and asked, "Under what tree did you see them together?"
He said, "Under the holm tree."
Daniel said, "You lie." With that the assembly cried out and they blessed God, who saved them that trust in him. Thye rose upp against the two elders and put them to death. Helchias, Susanna, and Joakim were happy because Susanna was not guilty. when King Astyages died, Cyrus the Persian suled his kingdom.
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