The verse "Yet they watched jealously from day to day to see her" (Susanna 1:12) is taken from the Book of Susanna, a story found in the Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal sections of the Bible. It means that the two elders, who were judges, were consumed with lust for Susanna. They were constantly and enviously watching her, hoping to catch her alone and take advantage of her.
Here's a breakdown:
They: Refers to the two elders who were appointed judges.
Watched jealously: Indicates their envy and lustful desire for Susanna. Jealousy in this context stems from their inability to have her and their fear that someone else might.
From day to day: Emphasizes the constancy and obsessive nature of their watching. It wasn't a fleeting interest but a persistent fixation.
To see her: Highlights that their purpose was to observe her, specifically with the intention of finding an opportunity to seduce or assault her.
In essence, the verse depicts the elders' predatory behavior and their relentless pursuit of Susanna based on their lustful desires. It sets the stage for the subsequent events in the story, where they attempt to blackmail her after she refuses their advances.
The verse "Yet they watched jealously from day to day to see her" (Susanna 1:12) is taken from the Book of Susanna, a story found in the Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal sections of the Bible. It means that the two elders, who were judges, were consumed with lust for Susanna. They were constantly and enviously watching her, hoping to catch her alone and take advantage of her.
Here's a breakdown:
They: Refers to the two elders who were appointed judges.
Watched jealously: Indicates their envy and lustful desire for Susanna. Jealousy in this context stems from their inability to have her and their fear that someone else might.
From day to day: Emphasizes the constancy and obsessive nature of their watching. It wasn't a fleeting interest but a persistent fixation.
To see her: Highlights that their purpose was to observe her, specifically with the intention of finding an opportunity to seduce or assault her.
In essence, the verse depicts the elders' predatory behavior and their relentless pursuit of Susanna based on their lustful desires. It sets the stage for the subsequent events in the story, where they attempt to blackmail her after she refuses their advances.
