VIRTUE TRIED
The Story of Susanna
	INTRODUCTION
	[The following is quoted from: THE OXFORD ANNOTATED BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA, Revised Standard Version, ed. by H. G. May and B. M. Metzger (New York: Oxford University Press, 1965), p. 1067; and pp. 209 and 213 of the Apocrypha] The six stories and four dream-visions of the book of Daniel make up the first great work of apocalyptic… These apocalypses come from times of national or community tribulation and are not actual history, but, through symbols and signs are interpretations of current history with its background and predictions of a future where tribulations and sorrows will give place to triumph and peace… The author was a pious Jew living under the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, 167-164 B.C. To encourage his suffering fellow-believers he tells six stories set in earlier days in Babylon just before and just after the Persian conquest [ca. 549 B.C.], which illustrate how faithful Jews, loyally practicing their religion, were enabled by divine aid to triumph over their enemies. The ancient Greek and Latin versions of the book of Daniel contain a number of additions which are not present in the original Hebrew and Aramaic text. Besides many minor accretions throughout the book there are three lengthy Additions, now included among the apocrypha as separate books… The date when these Additions were composed is probably sometime in the second or first century B.C. Whether they were written originally in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek has been debated by scholars… Of the cycle of traditions concerning Daniel which were added to the book of Daniel when it was translated into Greek, the story of Susanna is undoubtedly the gem... In Hebrew the name Susanna means “a lily” and the name Daniel means “God has judged.” Both are obviously appropriate names for the heroine and hero in a story that tells how Susanna was cleared of a false charge of adultery through the timely intervention of a sagacious and brave youth.
Back to the TOP | Previous Page | Next Page