There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. He married the daughter of Hilkiah, named Susanna, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord.
Her parents were righteous, and had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was very rich, and had a fine garden adjoining his house; the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honored of them all.
That year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said:
"Wickedness came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people."
These men were frequently at Joakim's house, and all who had a case to be tried came to them there.
When the people left at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to walk.
Every day the two elders used to see her, going in and walking about, and they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering their duty to administer justice.
Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their distress, for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to seduce her. Day after day they watched eagerly to see her.
One day they said to each other,
"Let us go home, for it is time for lunch."
So they both left and parted from each other.
But turning back, they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they confessed their lust. Then together they arranged for a time when they could find her alone.