The Book of Daniel
Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
Think Babylon. Think a couple of skankorific sleazy old lecherous corrupt Judges. Think a very hot woman named Suzanna who was married. The old guys corner her and tell her- hey, we want you bad, so either you sleep with us or we will tell your husband that you slept with someone, which as you know will get you killed.
She refuses to sleep with them. She had noble virtue. So they make up hideous lies about her. They even describe a scene wherein she allegedly slept with a guy who got away. Total lying crappola.
Apparently, they tried it before-- and it worked. It says the daughters of Israel fell for it and were intimidated so they got away with it with the daughters of Israel, but this daughter of Judah said- get out of my face you lecherous old creeps. She must have had a firm belief that her relationship with her husband was such that she knew he would trust her if someone lied on her like this (I am thinking her husband was probably just as hot). -Or at least he would ask her first for her explanation before believing any garbage someone slandered her with- and would be smart enough not to just take their word for it because of who they thought they were.
Daniel figures it out. Who do you people think you are? Lying rat-ass skeevemonsters. Imagine killing off a woman because they were lecherous lustful skeevemonsters. Is there a worse crime?
So Daniel tells them- OK- lets separate you two guys and see if you can keep your story straight. Which tree did you see her under with the alleged man she slept with? They don't answer the same tree consistently.
BUSTED.
This goes to the need for two witnesses- two eye witnesses, before anyone can be accused or sentenced for a crime like this.
The old guys get what they deserve, they didn't escape their karma. Too arrogant to even beg for mercy.
I love this Daniel story- I love all the Daniel stories, but this one especially because it is one of those that are close foreshadowers of the love that Christ had for women and for vindicating women- like that one he saved from the mob who was stoning her for adultery (the second reading of the day).
From the time Jesus was in the womb he was surrounded by people making outrageously false but plausible accusations against the virtue of women- starting with his pregnant mother who must have been the brunt of nasty speculation as to why Jesus looked more like the milkman than Joseph--and how did she really get pregnant?. It must have been his father Joseph who taught him that the value of defending and vindicating women's virtue is central to a real man's honor.
Real men don't slutify or trash women. Real men defend, vindicate, redeem and esteem their honor. That's why the people closest to the foot of the cross and first at the tomb were women.
Think about it.
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