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The History of Susanna
The History of Susanna, apocryphal addition to the Old Testament Book of Daniel; it appears in both the Septuagint (Greek) and Vulgate (Latin) versions. In the latter it constitutes the last chapter, but in many editions of the former it is the introductory chapter. In the Roman canon it is the penultimate chapter (13). Based on the traditional motif of the triumph of righteousness over sin, the story has two concurrent themes, of an innocent woman falsely accused of adultery, and of a wise judge.
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biblical literature: SusannaThe second addition to Daniel, the story of Susanna, and the third one, Bel and the Dragon, are preserved in two Greek versions. In both stories the hero is the wise Daniel. Susanna was the pious and beautiful wife of Joakim, a wealthy Jew…
Judaism: Apocrypha and PseudepigraphaIn the story of Susanna and the Elders (also 2nd century
bce), a charge of unchastity levelled against a beautiful woman is refuted when a clever youngster (“Daniel come to judgment”) points out discrepancies in the testimony of her accusers. This well-worn story has a close parallel in a…
The Book of DanielThe Book of Daniel, a book of the Old Testament found in the Ketuvim (Writings), the third section of the Jewish canon, but placed among the Prophets in the Christian canon. The first half of the book (chapters 1–6) contains stories in the third person about the experiences of Daniel and his…