1 Et erat vir habitans in Babylone, et nomen ejus Joakim:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so after all of the people were deported and both the city was deserted and the Most Holy Place destroyed, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord, which he spoke through the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, "The Most Holy Place will be deserted seventy years," [Jeremiah 25:11] we find the blessed Daniel in Babylon as a prophet and as an avenger of Susannah.
Jerome · AD 420 Verses 1, 2. "Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon whose name was Joakim; and he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord" (Vulgate: God).
2 et accepit uxorem nomine Susannam, filiam Helciæ, pulchram nimis, et timentem Deum:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 For Scripture says, "And there was a man living in Babylon and the name for him was Jehoiakim and he took a wife, whose name was Susannah, daughter of Hilkiah, who was exceedingly beautiful and who feared the Lord." [Susannah 1-2] Concerning whom we have written in the beginning of this book, who, being a stranger in Babylon, took Susannah to wife.
3 parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 Scripture says, "And her parents were righteous and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses." [Susannah 3] For the tree is known from the fruit which it readily brings forth from itself.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 It is well to make use of this testimony in order to exhort parents to educate with the divine law and testimony of God not only their sons but also their daughters.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 3. "And being righteous folk, her parents had educated their daughter in conformity with the law of Moses (Vulgate: because they were righteous, they had instructed...." This verse should be used as a testimony in order to urge parents to teach their daughters in accordance with God's law and holy Word, as well as their sons.
4 Erat autem Joakim dives valde, et erat ei pomarium vicinum domui suæ: et ad ipsum confluebant Judæi, eo quod esset honorabilior omnium.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 Scripture says, "And Jehoiakim was exceedingly wealthy and there was for him a garden adjoining his house, and the Jews gathered to him because he was more honorable than all the others.
5 Et constituti sunt de populo duo senes judices in illo anno, de quibus locutus est Dominus: Quia egressa est iniquitas de Babylone a senioribus judicibus, qui videbantur regere populum.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 For that which issued from the elders concerning what befell Susannah, these things are now also likewise accomplished by the chiefs of the people in Babylon now. For Susannah foreshadows the church, Jehoiakim her husband foreshadows Christ. The garden is the calling of the saints just like how fruit bearing trees produce fruit in the church. Babylon is the world.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 A Hebrew informed us that they were Achiah and Zedekiah, those whom "the king of Babylon roasted in the fire because their conduct in Israel was an outrage, having committed adultery with the wives of their neighbors."
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 5. "And there were two of the elders of the people (the Vulgate omits: of the people) who were appointed judges that year." There was a Jew who used to allege that these men were Ahab and Zedekiah (variant: Alchias and Zedekiah), of whom Jeremiah wrote: "The Lord do to thee as Ahab and Zedekiah, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire because of the iniquity they had…
6 Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia.
7 Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 Because the garden, which was planted in Eden by God, was intended to become a model and image of the church, the lovers of learning must recognize this.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 "In the morning" Susanna went to take a walk. It is not at all out of place (in order to pacify those who find examples in the sacred writing for everything that we do) to take a walk at a time such as this, for example, since back then one did well to take a walk in order to keep his own body healthy.
8 Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 To this Scripture says, "There was a garden adjoining his house and it happened as the people departed in the middle of the day, that Susannah entered and walked around in the garden of her husband, and the two elders watched her everyday and became lustful for her." [Susannah 7-8] Therefore the chiefs of the Jews now want to mutilate these things of the book of Daniel, claimin…
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 The Greek word pathos is better rendered for us with the term "disturbance" rather than with the term "passion." Therefore this disturbed and covetous desire stimulated, or rather it churned violently, in the heart of the elders.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 8. "And they were inflamed with lust for her, and they perverted their own mind and turned their eyes away that they might not look toward heaven nor remember just judgments." What the Greeks call pathos we render more correctly by "emotion" than by "passion." And so it was this emotion, this lustful desire, which aroused or even smote the hearts of the elders.
9 et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 But that they zealously watched Susannah walking in the garden every day, this indicates that until now they, who are both from the Gentiles and the Jews of the circumcision, watch and interfere in the business of the church, both of whom wish to bring false testimonies against us, just as the apostle says, "On account of the secretly introduced false brethren, who were brought…
10 Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And they were both sorely pricked concerning her and they did not report their grief to one another because they were ashamed to report their lust and because they wanted to have intercourse with her." [Susannah 10-11] For even what is spoken has truly overtaken them, for the two peoples are sorely pricked by the working of Satan in the two elders, they wish to work persecutio…
11 erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea.
12 Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum:
13 Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And one said to the other 'Let us now go home because it is the hour of the noon time meal.' And having gone out they departed from one another.
14 Cumque revertissent, venerunt in unum: et sciscitantes ab invicem causam, confessi sunt concupiscentiam suam: et tunc in communi statuerunt tempus quando eam possent invenire solam.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so Scripture says, "And they asked one another the reason why they returned, and they acknowledged their lust." [Susannah 14] They prophesied that they themselves are destined to be examined by angels in order to give an account to God because of every sin which they committed, as Solomon says, "Affliction shall destroy the impious." [Proverbs 1:32] For they are caught by t…
15 Factum est autem, cum observarent diem aptum, ingressa est aliquando sicut heri et nudiustertius, cum duabus solis puellis, voluitque lavari in pomario: æstus quippe erat:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And it happened, while they watched for a fitting day when she would go into the garden just as the day before and on the third day, with only two maidens, she desired to wash in the garden because it was during the heat of the day." [Susannah 15] "And it happened, while they watched for a fitting day." [Susannah 15] What does Scripture say is fitting, but the day of the Passo…
16 et non erat ibi quisquam, præter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam.
17 Dixit ergo puellis: Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver.
18 Et fecerunt sicut præceperat: clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressæ sunt per posticum ut afferrent quæ jusserat; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And they did not see the elders, because they were hidden." [Susannah 18] For just as then in the garden the devil was hidden in the serpent, in this way even now, after hiding himself in the elders he craves lust, so that again a second time he may destroy Eve.
19 Cum autem egressæ essent puellæ, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And it happened as the maidens went out, the elders also rose and ran to Susannah and said, 'Behold, the doors of the garden are locked and no one sees us and we lust for you. Therefore consent to us and lie with us.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 19. "Susanna sighed and said: 'I am straitened on every side.'" Anyone who has attained to the acme of perfect virtue never says that she is faced with a crisis of decision, when she is unable to escape the hands of adulterers who say, "Consent to us and have intercourse with us; for otherwise, if thou art unwilling, we will witness against thee that a young man was with…
20 Ecce ostia pomarii clausa sunt, et nemo nos videt, et nos in concupiscentia tui sumus: quam ob rem assentire nobis, et commiscere nobiscum.
21 Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so after hearing these words, the blessed Susannah was pricked in the heart and girded her body, as she did not want to be defiled by the lawless elders. And this occurrence had to truly overcome Susannah. For you may now also find this fulfilled in the Church.
22 Ingemuit Susanna, et ait: Angustiæ sunt mihi undique: si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est: si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "Then Susannah, having sighed deeply, said 'I am in dire straits for if I would do this now, it is death to me, yet if I would not, I will not escape your hands, but it is better for me, having not done this, to fall into your hands than to sin before the Lord.'" [Susannah 22-23] Behold, the words of the chaste woman who also heeded God.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 He calls sin death. In the same way, therefore, that for the one who commits adultery, adultery is death, so every sin that leads to death must be called death. And we are convinced that we die every time we sin mortally, whereas we rise again and recover life every time we do works worthy of life.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 22. "'For if I do this, it is death to me; but if I do not..." She speaks of sin as death. For just as in the case of one who commits adultery, the adultery means death, so also every sin which results in death is to be equated with death. And we believe we die as often as we sin unto death.
23 Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 23. "'But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing the deed than to sin in the sight of the Lord.'" In the Greek the word is not hairetoteron, or "better", but haireton, which we may render by "good" .
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "It is better for me not to escape your hands than to sin in front of God." She refused the proposals she heard because she feared him who she could not see and to whose divine gaze, however, she was very visible. Because she did not happen, in fact, to see God does not mean that God did not see her. God saw what he was building up: he inspected his work, inhabited his temple.
24 Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna: exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so, after these things happened, Scripture says, "And Susannah lamented with a great voice, but the two elders cried out against her." [Susannah 24] And so to whom did Susannah cry out but to God, as Isaiah also says, "Then you will cry out and God will hear you, while you are still talking he will say 'Behold, I am here.'" [Isaiah 58:9] "But the two elders cried out agains…
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 24. "And Susanna cried out with a great voice..." Her voice was great, not because of the intense vibrations it sent through the air nor because of the outcry that came from her lips, but because of the greatness of the chastity with which she called out to the Lord.
25 Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And after running, one of the elders opened the doors of the garden," [Susannah 26] exhibiting the broad and wide way, through which they, who are misled to these doors, perish. For the maidens revealed the straight and narrow door to us, through which they also marched.
26 Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And the slaves, after hearing the voice of Susannah, went in. But these elders, having opened the broad doors, did the opposite, cunningly contriving a certain pretext of death against her.
27 Postquam autem senes locuti sunt, erubuerunt servi vehementer, quia numquam dictus fuerat sermo hujuscemodi de Susanna. Et facta est dies crastina.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "But when the elders said their words the slaves were exceedingly ashamed, because a wicked word was never yet brought against her." [Susannah 27] When one lives chastely from boyhood, beloved, he forsakes the approval of men, even unto death.
28 Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And it happened on the next day, as the people came together at the house of her husband Jehoiakim, the two elders came, who were full of designs of lawlessness against Susannah in order to kill her, and they said before the people, 'Send for Susannah, daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Jehoiakim.' And they sent for her and she and her parents and her children and all of…
Didymus the Blind · AD 398 The devil does not fill someone or dwell in him by participation in his nature or being, as some think, but is thought to dwell in someone whom he has filled with confusion, deception and wickedness. With this same deception he entered the old men, who became cruel toward Susanna, and filled their souls with the passion of lust and the belated will of old age.
29 Et dixerunt coram populo: Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.
30 Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis.
31 Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "Susannah was beautiful to see and exceedingly pleasing to the eye." [Susannah 31] For the beauty that surrounds her, is not the beauty of a harlot's body, which surrounds a woman in the manner of Jezebel, nor the beauty of the face, which is covered with many kinds of makeup, but she had the beauty of faith and of chastity and of holiness.
32 At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "The lawless ones commanded her to be unveiled, for she was covered, in order that her beauty may be fulfilled." [Susannah 32] Let us consider, beloved, of what evil this action was.
33 Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam.
34 Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "Standing in the midst of the people they placed their hands upon her head," [Susannah 34] so that even while touching her they might slake the glut of their own lust.
35 Quæ flens suspexit ad cælum: erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "But she, while wailing, looked up to heaven. For her heart was relying on the Lord." [Susannah 34] For through her tears she attracted the Word from the heavens, who through her tears was destined to awaken the dead Lazarus. [John 11:43]
36 Et dixerunt presbyteri: Cum deambularemus in pomario soli, ingressa est hæc cum duabus puellis: et clausit ostia pomarii, et dimisit a se puellas.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "The elders said, 'While we were walking around in the garden alone, she entered with two handmaidens and she closed the doors of the garden and she sent away the handmaidens and a young man came to her, who was hidden and he reclined with her. But we, being in a secluded area of the garden, seeing the lawlessness, ran to them.
37 Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea.
38 Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri.
39 Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit:
40 hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis: hujus rei testes sumus.
41 Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so it is necessary for us to be steadfast in all matters and not to heed lying words, nor to be easily carried away nor be misled at the persons of rulers, knowing that we have to give an account to God. But rather we ought to attain to the truth and seek the exactness of faith, in order that we may be acceptable to God.
42 Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit: Deus æterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant,
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 But she, invoking the advocate from heaven, cried out saying, "Eternal God, who knows the secret things, who sees all things before they are, you know that they have falsely testified lies against me." [Susannah 42-43] For as many as call upon him with a pure heart, God listens to them. But as many as call upon him in treachery and hypocrisy, he turns his face from them.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 42. "But Susanna cried out with a great voice..." Her voice was rendered the clearer because of the emotion of her heart, the honest sincerity of her avowal, and the uprightness of her conscience. And so, although men would not listen to it, her outcry to God was great.
43 tu scis quoniam falsum testimonium tulerunt contra me: et ecce morior, cum nihil horum fecerim, quæ isti malitiose composuerunt adversum me.
44 Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "With my voice I have cried to the Lord." I have not, that is, cried with the voice of the body, whose sound is made from the vibration of the air, but with the voice of the heart that is silent for human beings but sounds like an outcry to God. Susanna was heard by this voice.
45 Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 Scripture says, "And while she was being carried off to be killed, God raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, who was Daniel by name. And he cried out with a great voice, 'I am innocent of this woman's blood.'" [Susannah 45-46] And so what is this which has happened, beloved? For we have been informed beforehand.
Cyril of Jerusalem · AD 386 The Spirit endued the soul of Daniel with wisdom so that, young as he was, he became a judge of elders. The chaste Susanna was condemned as a wanton harlot. There was no one to plead her case, for who was to deliver her from the rulers? She was led away to death; she was now in the hands of the executioners.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 45. "And as she was being led away to die, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy." By this language it is shown that the Holy Spirit did not then enter into Daniel, but rather that He was already within him, and only because of the tenderness of his years He had remained inactive.
46 et exclamavit voce magna: Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 46. "And he cried out with a great voice: 'I am innocent of the blood of this woman...'" Because the Holy Spirit was roused up within him and dictated to the boy what he should say, his voice was great. And if there is any place in Holy Scripture where the voice of a sinner is called great, it has (yet) to be noted.
47 Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit: Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es?
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 But perhaps someone will say that this is said to be unwritten and it is not possible to know if Daniel saw an angel and cried out, "I am innocent of this woman's blood." [Susannah 46] If you wait a little, O man, Daniel himself will teach you! "For after the people heard the voice and were amazed, Daniel answered them, 'Are you so dull, sons of Israel?
48 Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait: Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël?
49 revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam.
50 Reversus est ergo populus cum festinatione, et dixerunt ei senes: Veni, et sede in medio nostrum, et indica nobis: quia tibi Deus dedit honorem senectutis.
51 Et dixit ad eos Daniel: Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 He said, "'Separate them a great distance from one another and I will interrogate them.' When they were separated, one from the other, and after summoning one elder, he said to him 'You are decrepit with wicked days; now your sins, which you did formerly, have arrived, you who propound unrighteous judgments and condemn the innocent, but free the guilty, though the Lord says, "T…
52 Cum ergo divisi essent alter ab altero, vocavit unum de eis, et dixit ad eum: Inveterate dierum malorum, nunc venerunt peccata tua, quæ operabaris prius:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 But since we have already described in the prelude, that the two elders refer to a model of two peoples, one from the circumcision the other from the gentiles, who also are always becoming plotters against the church, we see the words of Daniel himself and learn that in nothing does Scripture deceive us.
53 judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino: Innocentem et justum non interficies.
54 Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub schino.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so in order that the sacredness of the holy writings may be kept in all places and the pure mouth of the blessed prophets may be proclaimed, for words we interpret words and for phrases we reckon phrases.
Jerome · AD 420 Verses 54-59. "'Tell me under which tree thou sawest them conversing with each other.' And he answered, 'Under the mastic tree.' And Daniel said to him, 'Well hast thou lied against thine own head; for behold, the angel of God, having received His sentence from Him, shall cleave thee in twain.' And a little while later the other elder said, 'Under the holm tree.' And Daniel sai…
55 Dixit autem Daniel: Recte mentitus es in caput tuum: ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so Daniel interrogated him and he utterly destroyed him. For when he said, "Already the angel of God has come taking the sentence from God to cut you in half." [Susannah 55] It is clear that when Susannah prayed to God and was heard, then the angel was sent out to help her. In which manner also happened to Tobit and Sarah.
56 Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei: Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum:
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 To the other elder he did not speak in this way, but he said to him, "You seed of Canaan and not of Judah." [Susannah 56] He points out Canaan recalling him as being such a gentile, having spoken to him as uncircumcised in this way, "'Has lust deceived you and beauty perverted your heart?
Hilary of Poitiers · AD 367 Salvation was awaited by and offered to Israel but not to the carnal Israel. "In fact, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise who are considered his offspring." As John also attests, the children of Abraham are not the children according to the flesh, since they are also children of vipers, and God can raise up children…
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Ham receives the sentence so that he might come to his senses, and he is punished through his son, so that you would learn that even if one is old, the punishment will pass to the child. And this makes his life bitter and painful, knowing that even after his death his son will be punished for what he did.
57 sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis: sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.
58 Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub prino.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so in order that the sacredness of the holy writings may be kept in all places and the pure mouth of the blessed prophets may be proclaimed, for words we interpret words and for phrases we reckon phrases.
59 Dixit autem ei Daniel: Recte mentitus es et tu in caput tuum: manet enim angelus Domini, gladium habens, ut secet te medium, et interficiat vos.
60 Exclamavit itaque omnis cœtus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 Accordingly, after these things happened Scripture says, "All the gathering cried out in a great voice and gave praise to God because Daniel convicted they who falsely testified from their mouth." [Susannah 60-61] And so what shall we say? While one said, "The Mastic tree," yet the other said, "The oak," in this there is a proof of God. For what did they plan to say?
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 60. "And the whole congregration (Vulgate: assembly) cried out with a great voice and blessed God, who saveth those who trust in Him..." If the whole congregation put them to death, the view which we mentioned earlier is apparently refuted, namely that these were the elders Ahab and Zedekiah, in conformity with Jeremiah's statement (Jeremiah 29:22).
61 Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros (convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum,
62 ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 After this, all the assembly having risen, gave praise to God who saves those who hope in him. "And they stood up against the two elders and did to them in which manner they wickedly wanted to do to their neighbor and killed them, because Daniel convicted them from their own mouth as having borne false witness," [Susannah 60-62] so that what was spoken was fulfilled, "He who di…
63 Helcias autem et uxor ejus laudaverunt Deum pro filia sua Susanna cum Joakim marito ejus, et cognatis omnibus, quia non esset inventa in ea res turpis.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 "And Hilkiah and his wife praised God concerning their daughter with Jehoiakim her husband and all the assembly, because a shameful matter was not found in her. And Daniel became great before the people from that day and beyond." [Susannah 63-64]
Ammonius of Alexandria · AD 300 This is the text of the story, but an allegory can also be drawn from the letter. Hilkiah in fact means "alteration of God" or "praise of God." Susanna means "their praise" or "apostolic lily." Joakim, "disposition of the Lord" or "praise of the Lord." Daniel, "judgment of God" and "God is judge." When, therefore, the joy of the souls of the church, who are pleasing to God—that…
Jerome · AD 420 Verse 63. "But Helcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna..." Like true saints they praise God after a worthy fashion, not simply on the ground of Susanna's deliverance from the clutches of the elders - for that would hardly be sufficient matter for praise or of any decisive importance, even if she had not been so delivered - but rather on the ground that no im…
64 Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 And so we ought to attend to all matters beloved, not fearing that someone who is caught in some trespass indicts his own soul, knowing that God is an advocate for all, he himself being the all-seeing eye, nothing which is committed in the world escapes his notice.
65 Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.