Page 291 - Bible History

264 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE IN CAPTIVITY
the elders were hiding in the orchard. When they saw her alone, they tempted her to sin. Susanna turned her back upon them. The elders then threatened to accuse her of sin and to condemn her to death. Su­ sanna sighed and said, "If I do this thing, it is death to me. If I do it not, I shall not escape your hands. But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.'' Susanna cried out with a loud voice. When the servants heard her cry, they ran to her. The elders cried out against Susanna. They accused the innocent Susanna of sin.
The next day the council of elders met in judgment and condemned her to death in the presence of her parents, her husband, and all her friends and acquaint­ ances, who believed that she was guilty.
Susanna wept and looked up to Heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord. She prayed, ''0 eternal God, Thou knowest hidden things. Thou knowest things before they come to pass. Thou know­ est that I am innocent, and yet I must die.''
The Lord heard her voice. When she was led out to be put to death, the Lord spoke to the spirit of Daniel, who cried out to the people, "Are you so foolish that without examination of the truth you con­ demn a daughter of Israel Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.''
When all had returned to judgment, Daniel exam­ ined each elder separately. Their answer to one question proved their guilt. Daniel asked each one under what tree he saw Susanna. The rst elder answered that he saw her under a mastic; the second