Susanna

1A man lived in Babylon. His name was Joacim.

There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim:

NoteBabylon was a big city far from Israel. Many people of Israel had been taken there to live.

2He married a woman named Susanna. She was the daughter of Chelcias. She was very beautiful, and she feared the Lord.

And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

NoteTo fear the Lord does not mean being scared of him. It means loving God and doing what he says.

3Her parents were good people. They taught their daughter to follow the law of Moses.

Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

NoteThe law of Moses was God's set of rules for his people. Moses was their leader long, long ago.

4Joacim was a great and rich man. A lovely garden lay next to his house. The Jews came to visit him, because he was more respected than anyone else.

Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

NoteJews means the people of Israel. Many of them lived in Babylon, far from their own land.

5That same year two elders of the people were chosen to be judges. The Lord had spoken about men like these. He said that wickedness came out of Babylon from old judges, men who seemed to lead the people.

The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.

NoteElders were older men the people trusted. Judges listened to arguments and decided who was right. The words about wickedness come from a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

6These two were often at Joacim's house. Everyone with a case at law came to them.

These kept much at Joacim’s house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them.

NoteA case at law was an argument two people could not settle. A judge listened and decided who was right.

7At noon the people would go away. Then Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk.

Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.

NoteNoon is the middle of the day. It was too hot to work, so people went home to rest.

8The two elders saw her go in and walk there every day. They burned with desire for her.

And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

9They twisted their own thinking. They turned their eyes away so they would not look up to heaven. They did not remember fair judging.

And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.

NotePeople looked up toward heaven when they prayed. Turning their eyes away meant they stopped thinking about God.

10Both of them ached with love for her. Yet neither one dared to tell the other his pain.

And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief.

11They were ashamed to say out loud what they wanted, which was to lie with her.

For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.

12Still, day after day, they watched carefully to see her.

Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

13One said to the other, "Let us go home now. It is dinner time."

And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

NoteBack then the big meal came in the middle of the day. That is the dinner they mean here.

14So they went out and left each other. Then each one turned back and came to the same place. They asked each other why. Then they each admitted what they wanted. So together they picked a time when they could find her alone.

So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

15They watched for the right day, and it came. She went in as before with only two servant girls. She wanted to wash herself in the garden, because it was hot.

And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.

NoteServant girls worked in the house and helped her. They went almost everywhere with her.

16Nobody else was there, only the two elders. They had hidden themselves and were watching her.

And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.

17Then she said to her servant girls, "Bring me oil and washing balls. Shut the garden doors, so I can wash."

Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

NoteWashing balls were something like soap. People also rubbed oil on their skin to get clean.

18They did what she asked. They shut the garden doors and went out by the side doors. They went to get the things she had asked for. They did not see the elders, because the men were hidden.

And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

NoteThe side doors were small doors in the garden wall. They were not the main way in.

19When the servant girls had gone out, the two elders got up. They ran to her and said,

Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,

20"Look, the garden doors are shut. No one can see us. We want you. So say yes to us, and lie with us.

Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.

21If you will not, we will speak against you. We will say a young man was with you. We will say that is why you sent your servant girls away."

If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee.

NoteIn court back then, people believed what two grown men said. The elders knew this, so they used it to scare her.

22Then Susanna sighed and said, "I am trapped on every side. If I do this thing, it means death for me. If I do not do it, I cannot get away from you.

Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands.

NoteShe means she could be killed as a punishment. That was the punishment for what they said she did.

23It is better for me to fall into your hands and not do it. I will not sin in the sight of the Lord."

It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

NoteIn the sight of the Lord means with God watching. She believed God saw everything she did.

24Then Susanna shouted out loud. The two elders shouted out against her.

With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

NoteShouting was how a woman showed she did not agree. Her cry told everyone she wanted help.

25One of them ran and opened the garden door.

Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.

26The servants of the house heard the shouting in the garden. They rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her.

So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto her.

27But when the elders told their story, the servants were very ashamed. No one had ever said such a thing about Susanna.

But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

28The next day the people gathered at her husband Joacim's. The two elders came too. They were full of an evil plan against Susanna, to have her put to death.

And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;

29They said in front of the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, the wife of Joacim." So they sent for her.

And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim’s wife. And so they sent.

30She came with her father and her mother, her children, and all her family.

So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

31Susanna was a very fine woman, and lovely to look at.

Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

32Her face was covered with a veil. These wicked men ordered the veil taken off, so they could fill their eyes with her beauty.

And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty.

NoteA veil is a cloth that covers the face. Women wore one when they went out among people.

33Her friends cried, and so did everyone who saw her.

Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

34Then the two elders stood up in the middle of the people. They put their hands on her head.

Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.

NotePutting hands on someone's head was part of accusing them. It showed who the accusers were pointing at.

35She cried and looked up toward heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord.

And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

36The elders said, "We were walking alone in the garden. This woman came in with two servant girls. She shut the garden doors and sent the girls away.

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.

37Then a young man came out of hiding. He came to her and lay with her.

Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.

38We were standing in a corner of the garden. We saw this wicked act and ran to them.

Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.

39We saw them together, but we could not hold the man. He was stronger than we were. He opened the door and jumped out.

And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.

40But we caught this woman. We asked who the young man was, and she would not tell us. This is what we say happened."

But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.

41The people at the meeting believed them, since they were the elders and judges of the people. So they said she must die.

Then the assembly believed them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.

NoteThis meeting was like a court. The people there had the power to say someone must die.

42Then Susanna cried out loud and said, "God who lives forever, you know what is hidden. You know all things before they happen.

Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be:

43You know they have told lies about me. Look, I must die, and I never did the things these men made up against me."

Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.

44And the Lord heard her voice.

And the Lord heard her voice.

45So as she was led away to be put to death, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy. His name was Daniel.

Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:

NoteThe holy spirit is God's own spirit. God gave Daniel courage to speak up. This is the same Daniel who is grown up in the book of Daniel.

46He shouted out loud, "I am clear of the blood of this woman!"

Who cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.

NoteClear of the blood means having no part in a killing. Daniel was saying he would not help kill her.

47All the people turned to him and said, "What do you mean by these words?"

Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?

48He stood in the middle of them and said, "Are you such fools, sons of Israel? You have said a daughter of Israel must die. You did not ask questions or learn the truth.

So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?

NoteSons of Israel means the men of Israel, God's people. A daughter of Israel is a woman of that same people.

49Go back to the place of judging. These men have told lies about her."

Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false witness against her.

NoteThe place of judging was where cases were heard. Daniel wanted them to start the trial over.

50So all the people hurried back. The elders said to him, "Come, sit down with us. Show us what you mean. God has given you the honor of an elder."

Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.

NoteOnly elders were allowed to speak and judge like this. The people were treating a young boy as one of them.

51Then Daniel said to them, "Put these two apart, far from each other. I will question them."

Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from another, and I will examine them.

NoteDaniel keeps the men apart so neither can hear the other. Liars often tell different stories that way.

52So they were set apart from each other. He called one of them and said, "You have grown old in wickedness. Now the sins you did long ago have come to light.

So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light.

NoteCome to light means the truth is now being seen. He could not hide what he had done.

53You have judged unfairly. You said the innocent must die, and you let the guilty go free. Yet the Lord says, 'Do not kill the innocent and the good.'

For thou hast pronounced false judgment and hast condemned the innocent and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.

NoteInnocent means someone who did nothing wrong. Guilty means someone who really did the bad thing.

54Now then, if you really saw her, tell me. Under what tree did you see them lying together?" He answered, "Under a mastick tree."

Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.

NoteA mastick tree is a small tree with sticky sap. People chewed the sap like gum.

55Daniel said, "Very good. You have lied against your own head. Right now the angel of God has God's word to cut you in two."

And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two.

NoteLied against your own head means the lie will fall back on him. In the Greek this story was written in, the tree's name sounds like the word for cut.

56He set that man aside and told them to bring the other. He said to him, "You are a child of Canaan, not of Judah. Beauty has fooled you, and desire has twisted your heart.

So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.

NoteJudah was one family group of the people of Israel. Canaan meant people who did not belong to Israel at all.

57This is how you two have treated the daughters of Israel. Out of fear they lay with you. But this daughter of Judah would not put up with your wickedness.

Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.

NoteLay with you means acting the way a husband and wife do. The elders had frightened other women into this.

58Now tell me. Under what tree did you catch them lying together?" He answered, "Under a holm tree."

Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an holm tree.

NoteA holm tree is a kind of oak. Its leaves stay green all year long.

59Then Daniel said to him, "You too have lied against your own head. The angel of God is waiting with his sword to cut you in two, to destroy you both."

Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.

NoteIn the Greek this story was written in, this tree's name sounds like the word for saw. Daniel is playing on the name of each tree.

60Then everyone at the meeting shouted out loud. They praised God, who saves those who put their hope in him.

With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him.

61They stood up against the two elders. Daniel had shown, by their own words, that they had lied.

And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth:

62Following the law of Moses, they did to the two men what those men had meanly planned to do to their neighbor. They put them to death. So on that day the blood of an innocent woman was saved.

And according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.

NoteThe law of Moses had a rule about lying in court. A liar got the same punishment he wanted for the other person.

63So Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna. Joacim her husband and all the family praised God too, because nothing shameful was found in her.

Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

64From that day on, the people thought very highly of Daniel.

From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.