The booklet probably dates from the second or first century B.C. The story is a folk-tale in laudation of the famous prophet Daniel and the moral, such as it is, develops naturally from the incidents. But it is unnecessary to suppose a definite moral. The author's purpose is variously conceived: as insistence on carefulness in judging or as admonition to young men to be wise like Daniel (see verse 62 in the Septuagint).

The origin of the story is uncertain: possibly itrests on some tradition, but more probably is a pure invention suggested by facts of not infrequent occurrence (see Jer. The Theodotion text is fuller, and has more literary finish. The Septuagint version appears to be the older: it is cruder than the other, and introduces an angel (verse 45) who inspires Daniel with wisdom for the emergency. These are put to death Susanna is justified and Daniel's reputation among the people is thenceforth very high. Brought before the tribunal, she is found guilty, and is led forth to execution but at this moment Daniel, then a young lad, interposes and by a clever device shows the falsity of the accusers. 1), the beautiful and pious wife of the rich Joacim (Joakim) of Babylon, walking in her garden, is seen by two elders, recently appointed judges, who, inflamed with lust, approach her with an infamous proposal, and, when repulsed, accuse her publicly of adultery. The main story is as follows: Susanna ( = 'lily' comp. The texts of the Septuagint and Theodotion differ from each other in a number of details and other variations are found in the Syriac versions (ed.

at end, has no discernible connection with Susanna). Origen observes (in the 'Epistola ad Africanum') that it was 'hidden' by the Jews but the precise significance of this remark is not clear, as there are no early Jewish references to the book (the comparison of a woman to a red rose, made in the Midrash on Lev.

It was accepted as canonical by the Christians generally up to the third century (its canonicity was disputed by Julius Africanus) and it is still so regarded by Catholics. That it was in early times regarded as a part of the Book of Daniel appears from the fact that in most Greek manuscripts it stands at the beginning of that book Jerome places it at the end of Daniel, with a notice that it is not found in the Hebrew Bible. The latter is the one adopted by the early Christian writers and followed in the present common English translations. One of the books of the Protestant Apocrypha entitled in some manuscripts 'The Judgment of Daniel.' The Greek text is extant in two recensions: that of the Septuagint (given only in the Codex Chisianus) and that of Theodotion.

Susanna in the book of daniel