3. Her parents were devout Jews who had brought up their daughter to live according to the Law of Moses.
4. Her husband Joakim was very wealthy. Lovely gardens surrounded his house, and the other Jews often gathered there for meetings, because they all thought so highly of him.
5-6. Everyone who had a legal case to present would also go to Joakim's house, where two judges held court. These two leaders of the Jewish community had recently been appointed to office. They were the ones about whom the Lord said, “There is wickedness in Babylon; judges are failing to give guidance to the people.”
7. Every day at noon, when all the people left for lunch, Susanna used to take a walk in the gardens.
8. The two judges were so attracted to her that they would wait about and watch for her.
9. They became so obsessed with their desire for her that they lost interest both in prayer and in their responsibility as judges.
10. They each wanted Susanna, but neither told the other how he felt,
11. for each was ashamed to admit his lust.
12. So day after day they watched eagerly to catch sight of her.
13. One day at noon they said to each other, “It's time for lunch; let's go home.”
14. So they both left and went their separate ways, but soon each one came back for a look at Susanna, and by accident they met each other. At first each tried to explain what he was doing there, but finally they both confessed their desire for Susanna. They decided to watch for a time when they might find her alone.
15-17. So they kept waiting for the right opportunity.One day Susanna went into the garden as usual with her two servant women. No one else was there, except the two judges, who had hidden and were watching Susanna. It was very hot and she decided to take a bath. So she said to her servants, “Bring me some bath oil and some perfume, and lock the gates, so that I won't be disturbed.”
18. The servants locked the main gates and went out by the side door to get what Susanna had asked for. They did not notice the two men.