The history of Susanna and the two elders.
This history of Susanna, in all the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles, was placed in the beginning of the book of Daniel: till St. Jerome, in his translation, detached it from thence; because he did not find it in the Hebrew: which is also the case of the history of Bel and the Dragon. But both the one and the other are received by the Catholic Church: and were from the very beginning a part of the Christian Bible.
13:1. Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:
13:2. And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God.
13:3. For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.
13:4. Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them all.
13:5. And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: That iniquity came out from Babylon, from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people.
13:6. These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that hand any matters of judgment came to them.
13:7. And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard.
13:8. And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her: