“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.”
Judges. The Jews say they were Achab and Sedecias, (Origen) as this text seems to allude to Jeremias xxix. 21. or xxxiii. 14. But how were they burnt? since the Jews appear to have stoned them, unless they were delivered up to the king’s officers, ver. 61. (Calmet) — The captives under Joakim, were better treated than those who were taken nineteen years afterwards, when all fell into a heavier bondage. (Worthington) — The might enjoy possessions, (Haydock) and have judges of their nation. (Calmet) — Cappel. urges this difficulty, and many others, to shew that this account is fabulous. But as the Jews were allowed to follow their religion, the Chaldeans would strive to keep them in good order. It is not said that Joakim was one of the captives. He might have settled long before at Babylon, where Helcias probably brought up his daughter in the fear of God, ver. 3. The judges might also have had authority before over the Israelites, in Assyria, who were now all under the same government, ver. 57. (Houbigant.; Pref.)
“Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.”
Noon, at which time the Jews dined, (ver. 13.; Jos.[Josephus?] vita) and the streets were as little frequented as they are at night among us. Hence the judges thought this a fit opportunity. (Calmet)
“et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.”
Mind. They were distracted by love, (Haydock) and rendered foolish.
“Et fecerunt sicut præceperat : clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressæ sunt per posticum ut afferrent quæ jusserat ; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos.”
Back door, leading from the house. Strangers came by the other gates. (Calmet) — Susanna had not perhaps at first intended to bathe. Cappel. accuses her of imprudence, without reason. He cannot believe that the old judges would be so sottish as they appear to have been. (Houbigant.)
“Ingemuit Susanna, et ait : Angustiæ sunt mihi undique : si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est : si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras.”
Death of the soul, (St. Jerome) and also of the body, if the adultery were detected. How much does Susanna surpass the famed Lucretia, who slew herself to shew that she had not consented to her violation! Si adultera cur laudata? Si pudica cur occisa? (St. Augustine, de Civ. Dei. i. 19.; St. Ambrose, de Sp. iii. 3.) (Calmet)
“Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna : exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.”
Out. So the law ordained, when a woman was assaulted. (Haydock)
“Et dixerunt coram populo : Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.”
People, for greater shew of justice. (Worthington) — We here behold the forms.
“At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.”
Uncovered, pretending that respect for the company required it, or perhaps that they might detect her guilt by her blushes. (Calmet) — But their real motive is here disclosed. (Haydock)
“Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.”
Head, saying, “Thy malice brings on this chastisement, and not we.” (Lyran.) — They appear to discharge their conscience, (Leviticus i. 4. and xxiv. 14.) not as judges but as accusers. The people pass sentence, ver. 41. Adulteresses were stoned, Leviticus xx. 10. (Calmet)
“Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.”
Death. The multitude approved of this sentence, which the judges pronounced, pretending to act agreeably to the law, Deuteronomy xxii. (Worthington)
“Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel :”
Boy. He was about twelve years old. (St. Ignatius, ad Magn.; Sulpit. ii.; Theod.) — He might walk out, though he lodged at court. (Houbigant.) — God enabled him to declare that Susanna was innocent. The people had consented to her death, but he stands up in her defence. (Worthington)
“et exclamavit voce magna : Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.”
Clear. This form is often used, Acts xviii. 6., and Matthew xxvii. 24.
“Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait : Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël ?”
Truth. They had taken no precautions to ascertain it; which they ought to have done the more, as Susanna had always been highly esteemed. (Calmet) — As the witnesses were positive, she must die, except their falsehood could be manifested, which none suspected. (Houbigant.)
“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.”
Old men. They speak sarcastically; or rather other senators, who had not been in the plot, address Daniel.
“Dixit autem Daniel : Recte mentitus es in caput tuum : ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.”
Two. This punishment was not unusual: yet it is probable that the two old men were stoned to death by the law of retaliation, ver. 61., and Exodus xix. 4.) There is an allusion, in Greek, between schinon and schisei, and also between Prinos and prisei; (ver. 58, 59) and hence it is concluded that this work was originally in that language. But there might be a similar allusion in Hebrew or Chaldean or the translator might think it lawful to put one tree for another. (Calmet) — We find a tree called shinar, in Persia. (Tavern. iv. 6.) It would be easy to produce similar allusions in the Latin ilex; thus ilicò peribis, &c. (Menochius)
“sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis : sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.”
Israel, when you were judges in Assyria, ver. 5. (Haydock) — Conversed. No one could be alone with women, in the East, without suspicion.
“Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros (convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum,”
Neighbour; stoning or strangling them, unless they gave them up to Nabuchodonosor’s officers, ver. 5. (Calmet)
“Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.”
Forward. By this first prophetical act Daniel acquired fame, (Worthington) which he retained till the death of Astyages. (Maldonatus; Menochius)
“Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.”
Astyages, or Darius, chap. v. 31. This belongs to the following chapter (Calmet) or to the 9th. (Worthington) — Cyrus. Little is known about his birth or death. Yet all agree that he conquered the Chaldeans. (Calmet)