This verse is from the Book of Susanna, which is a chapter added to the Book of Daniel in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) and is considered canonical by some Christian denominations but apocryphal by others.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its context:
Context: Susanna is a virtuous and beautiful woman who is falsely accused of adultery by two corrupt elders. They claim to have seen her committing the act and threaten to testify against her.
"Now therefore tell me, Under what tree did you take them companying together?": This is Daniel speaking. He is acting as a judge in Susanna's case, and he is interrogating one of the elders separately from the other. He is trying to catch them in a lie. "Taking them companying together" is an archaic way of saying "caught them having sex together".
"Who answered, Under a holm tree.": This is the elder answering Daniel's question. He claims that he and the other elder witnessed Susanna and her alleged lover having sex under a holm tree. A holm tree is a type of evergreen oak.
Meaning and Significance:
The verse is crucial because:
1. It sets the stage for Daniel to expose the elders' lies. By questioning them separately about specific details like the type of tree, Daniel is able to create inconsistencies in their testimonies.
2. It introduces a seemingly unimportant detail (the tree) that becomes pivotal to the plot. Daniel will then question the other elder about the tree, and if they give a different answer, it proves they are lying.
In essence, the verse is a turning point in the story where Daniel begins to unravel the conspiracy against Susanna. The seemingly innocent question about the tree becomes the instrument of truth and justice.
This verse is from the Book of Susanna, which is a chapter added to the Book of Daniel in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) and is considered canonical by some Christian denominations but apocryphal by others.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its context:
Context: Susanna is a virtuous and beautiful woman who is falsely accused of adultery by two corrupt elders. They claim to have seen her committing the act and threaten to testify against her.
"Now therefore tell me, Under what tree did you take them companying together?": This is Daniel speaking. He is acting as a judge in Susanna's case, and he is interrogating one of the elders separately from the other. He is trying to catch them in a lie. "Taking them companying together" is an archaic way of saying "caught them having sex together".
"Who answered, Under a holm tree.": This is the elder answering Daniel's question. He claims that he and the other elder witnessed Susanna and her alleged lover having sex under a holm tree. A holm tree is a type of evergreen oak.
Meaning and Significance:
The verse is crucial because:
1. It sets the stage for Daniel to expose the elders' lies. By questioning them separately about specific details like the type of tree, Daniel is able to create inconsistencies in their testimonies.
2. It introduces a seemingly unimportant detail (the tree) that becomes pivotal to the plot. Daniel will then question the other elder about the tree, and if they give a different answer, it proves they are lying.
In essence, the verse is a turning point in the story where Daniel begins to unravel the conspiracy against Susanna. The seemingly innocent question about the tree becomes the instrument of truth and justice.
