AN ATHEISTIC BIBLE STUDY – THE APOCRYPHA THE HISTORY OF SUSANNA
Probably the earliest courtroom drama ever written, and a thriller worthy of Earl Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason. Susannah’s history was originally intended to open the Book Of Daniel, in the Old Testament, and introduces Daniel as a divinely appointed legal defender in the case of Susan and two false accusers.
The extract was dropped for probably not tying in to the rest of the Daniel text, but it remains on of the Bible’s most intriguing and dramatic pieces.
Susanna is a much respected, God-fearing young and beautiful wife of wealthy businessman Joacin. While he is away one day, Susanna attracts the attention of two ageing local judges who spy on her voyeuristically when she goes for walks or takes a bath in a natural pool in her garden.
Deciding they want her, the men watch as she gets her servant girls to prepare her for her bath and then insists on being alone for her bath / swim. The men approach her with a diabolical blackmail plan. Either she makes love to them, or they will make false claims that she committed adultery with a young fictitious lover. Conviction for adultery could have got her executed but Susanna is principled and God fearing enough to taker her chances in court.
The men are highly respected and so Susanna finds their evidence is pushing her close to execution. She prays to God, at which point Daniel appears ready to defend her in the nick of time. He questions the men independently and finds contradictions in their case when they each describe seeing the adultery-taking place in different parts of the garden.
Susanna is saved – her reputation intact. Her false accusers are executed in her stead. Apart from God personally sending Daniel to save her, this is a very secular crime drama, worthy of modern TV showings. Its sexuality and lack of context with the rest of Daniel saw the episode excised from the official Bible. Such a shame.
Arthur Chappell.
