“Everyday,
The two elders
Used to see Susanna,
Going in,
Walking about.
They began
To lust for her.
They suppressed
Their consciences.
They 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.
They were ashamed
To disclose
Their lustful desire
To seduce her.
Day after day,
They watched eagerly,
To see her.”
Now the plot thickens. The scene has been set. These two elderly judges have a passion for Susanna, the wife of Joakim, in whose house they conduct their trials. She normally went for a walk in the garden, after everyone had left. These two elders saw Susanna go in and out for her walk. They began to lust after her, as they suppressed their consciences. They forgot about their duty to administer justice, as they turned their eyes away from heaven. Even though they were overwhelmed with passion for Susanna, neither elder told the other, because they were ashamed to let the other one know about their lustful desires to seduce Susanna. They were secret sexual lovers of Susanna, as they watched her every day.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 