Susanna
Daniel 13, verse 1. There was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Jehoiakim. Daniel 13, verse 2. He took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. Daniel 13, verse 3. Her parents were righteous and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses. Daniel 13, verse 4. Jehoiakim was exceedingly wealthy, with a spacious garden adjoining his house, and the Jews came to him because he was the most honored of them all. Daniel 13, verse 5. In that year, two elders from the people were appointed as judges, concerning whom the Lord said, “Lawlessness came forth out of Babylon from the elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.” Daniel 13, verse 6. These men were frequently at Jehoiakim's house, and all who had judgments came to them. Daniel 13, verse 7. Now when the people departed at midday, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to walk. Daniel 13, verse 8. So the two elders would see her going in and walking about every day, and they desired her. Daniel 13, verse 9. They turned away their heart and averted their eyes from looking to heaven, and from remembering righteous judgments. Daniel 13, verse 10. Both were pierced to the heart for her, but they did not tell each other their pain. Daniel 13, verse 11. They were ashamed to inform one another of their desire, because they wished to have relations with her. Daniel 13, verse 12. So every day they eagerly watched to see her. Daniel 13, verse 13. Finally they said to one another, “Let us go home, for it is time for the midday meal,” and going out, they parted from each other. Daniel 13, verse 14. But turning back, they met again, and when they pressured each other for the reason, they confessed their desire. Together they arranged for a time they could find her alone. Daniel 13, verse 15. Then it came to pass, while they were waiting for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids. She also wished to bathe in the garden, for it was hot. Daniel 13, verse 16. For no one was there except the two elders, who hid themselves and were watching her. Daniel 13, verse 17. She said to her maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the garden, that I may bathe.” Daniel 13, verse 18. They did as she said and closed the garden doors. They went out by the side doors to bring the things commanded, but did not see the elders, because they were hidden. Daniel 13, verse 19. When the maids left, the two elders arose and ran to her, Daniel 13, verse 20. and said, “Look, the doors of the garden are closed, and no one will see us, and we desire you. Therefore give us your consent and lie with us. Daniel 13, verse 21. If you do not, we will testify that a young man was with you, and because of this you sent your maids away from you.” Daniel 13, verse 22. Then Susanna sighed deeply and said, “I am hemmed in on all sides, for if I do this thing, it is death for me; yet if I do not, I will not escape your hands. Daniel 13, verse 23. But it is better for me not to do it and to fall into your hands, than to sin against the Lord.” Daniel 13, verse 24. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders cried out against her. Daniel 13, verse 25. One of them ran and opened the garden doors. Daniel 13, verse 26. When the household servants heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in by the side doors to see what had happened to her. Daniel 13, verse 27. So when the elders told their tale, the servants were deeply ashamed, for such a report had never been made about Susanna. Daniel 13, verse 28. Then it came to pass the next day, when the people assembled at the house of Jehoiakim, her husband, the two elders also came full of their lawless purpose against Susanna, to have her put to death. They said before all the people, Daniel 13, verse 29. “Send for Susanna the daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Jehoiakim.” Daniel 13, verse 30. So they sent for her, and she came with her parents, her children, and all her kindred. Daniel 13, verse 31. Now Susanna was very desirable and beautiful to behold. Daniel 13, verse 32. However, she was veiled; thus the lawless men commanded she be unveiled, so as to enjoy her beauty. Daniel 13, verse 33. But her friends and all who saw her wept. Daniel 13, verse 34. Then the two elders arose in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon her head. Daniel 13, verse 35. She wept and looked up to heaven; for her heart trusted in the Lord. Daniel 13, verse 36. The two elders said, “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, closed the doors of the garden, and dismissed the maids. Daniel 13, verse 37. Then a young man who was hidden came to her and lay with her. Daniel 13, verse 38. Now we were in a corner of the garden and saw this lawlessness. So we ran to them and saw them having relations. Daniel 13, verse 39. But we could not hold the man, for he was stronger than we. He then opened the doors and rushed out. Daniel 13, verse 40. So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, Daniel 13, verse 41. but she was unwilling to tell us.” Thus the assembly believed them, as they were elders and judges among the people. So they condemned her to death. Daniel 13, verse 42. But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “O eternal God, who know both what is secret and all things before they come to be, Daniel 13, verse 43. You know these men testified against me falsely, and behold, I shall die, though I did none of the things they wickedly invented against me.” Daniel 13, verse 44. The Lord heard her voice, Daniel 13, verse 45. and as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel. Daniel 13, verse 46. He cried out with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.” Daniel 13, verse 47. So all the people turned to him and said, “What is this thing you said?” Daniel 13, verse 48. Then he stood in their midst and said, “Are you such fools, O sons of Israel? Without examination or knowledge of the evidence, have you condemned a daughter of Israel? Daniel 13, verse 49. Return to the place of judgment, for these men testified against her falsely.” Daniel 13, verse 50. So all the people returned with haste. The elders said to him, “Come, sit in our midst and inform us, for God gives you that privilege.” Daniel 13, verse 51. Daniel then said to them, “Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.” Daniel 13, verse 52. When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, “You old man of evil days, now the sins you committed in earlier days have come home; Daniel 13, verse 53. for you pronounce unjust judgments, condemn the innocent, and set the guilty free. Yet the Lord said, ‘You shall not kill the innocent and the righteous.’ Daniel 13, verse 54. Now then, if indeed you saw her, tell me, under which tree did you see them being intimate with each other?” He replied, “Under a mastic tree.” Daniel 13, verse 55. Daniel then said, “Plainly, you lied against your own head, for even now the angel of God receives the sentence from God, and he shall cut you in two.” Daniel 13, verse 56. Then he removed him, and commanded them to bring the other. He said to him, “You seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty deceived you, and desire turned away your heart. Daniel 13, verse 57. This is how both of you deal with the daughters of Israel, and they have been intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure your lawlessness. Daniel 13, verse 58. Now then, tell me, under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?” He replied, “Under the evergreen oak.” Daniel 13, verse 59. Daniel said to him, “Plainly, you also lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy both of you.” Daniel 13, verse 60. Then the whole assembly cried out with a loud voice and blessed God, who saves those who hope in Him. Daniel 13, verse 61. So they rose up against the two elders, for Daniel convicted them out of their own mouth of bearing false witness; and they did to them the thing they maliciously intended to do against their neighbor. Daniel 13, verse 62. For acting in accordance with the Law of Moses, they put them to death. Therefore innocent blood was saved on that day. Daniel 13, verse 63. Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter, with Jehoiakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in her. Daniel 13, verse 64. Thus Daniel had a great reputation among the people from that day onward.