The Book of Susanna is an intertestamental, noncanonical work that tells the story of a faithful woman who is falsely accused of adultery by two elders but vindicated through Daniel’s God-given wisdom. Written sometime between the second and first century BC, this sixty-four-verse narrative emphasizes themes of justice, righteousness, and divine protection of the innocent, reflecting core biblical principles found throughout the Old and New Testaments (Psalm 82:3-4; Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 23:23; James 1:27). Although it was historically significant and preserved in the Apocrypha, the Book of Susanna was never part of the Hebrew Bible nor the Protestant canon and was not cited by Jesus or the apostles. The Book of Susana is a compelling example of faith and integrity even though it is not authoritative Scripture.
The Book of Susanna (also sometimes called the Judgment of Daniel) is a book found in the collection of writings called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical Books that claims to be Daniel 13 as an addition to the Book of Daniel (along with Bel and the Dragon, The Prayer of Azariah, and the Song of the Three Jews).
The Book of Susanna was likely written during the intertestamental period, sometime between the second and first century BC, after Daniel’s lifetime. It is accepted as part of the inspired Scriptures by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, though most Protestant groups deny it as part of the inspired Bible. It was also not considered part of the Jewish Scriptures, though it appears in the collection of writings in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament books).
The book's sixty-four verses center on the story of Susanna, the wife of Joakim and daughter of a priest. Two elders watch Susanna as she bathes. They later approach Susanna and demand she have sex with them or they will falsely accuse her of cheating on her husband with a young man. She rejects the offer and shouts for help. In court, Susanna stands against her accusers but is proclaimed guilty of infidelity. On her way to execution, Daniel is led by God to tell the people to return for a retrial. Daniel questions each elder individually and discovers their lie. Susanna is freed and the two elders are put to death instead.
This important narrative focuses on the righteous devotion of Susanna to God's Law as well as the consequences of disobedience. Daniel is noted as the prophet informed by God's Spirit of the injustice taking place and who quickly acts to save a life and stand for God's truth.
It is easy to see why the Book of Susanna has been considered important throughout history. While it was most likely written in connection with Daniel, it came after his lifetime and gives no definite information to confirm its historicity.
Should the Book of Susanna be included in the Bible? Despite the valuable lessons presented in its verses, there are important reasons it has not been included in the Old or New Testament. In the introduction to Jerome's Latin Vulgate (approximately AD 400), he indicated that Susanna was an apocryphal addition because it was not present in the Hebrew text of Daniel. The Hebrew and Aramaic text of Daniel had existed long before the known composition of the Book of Susanna. To claim it belongs in Scripture as part of Daniel is a factual and historical error. Even if the account found in the Book of Susanna is true, the attempt to make it part of the Bible due to a connection with the Book of Daniel is not.
In addition, the Book of Susanna does not claim to be the Word of God. It was not mentioned by other books of the Bible nor by Jesus and His apostles.
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