By Jeremie Prizeman, 1873 Formerly Vicar of Harlington, Bedfordshire, and Rector of Leasingham, Lincolnshire; Author of the "Use of the Apocrypha in the Christian Church," etc. Εὐλόγησαν τῷ θεῷ τῷ σώζοντι τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν. — Hist. Sus. v. 60....

To my Wife Alice Daubney The three apocryphal portions of Daniel considered in this book have often been hardly judged. One of them had almost become a byword of contempt for fabulous inventiveness. Yet the writer hopes that he has succeeded in shewing that they are worthy of more serious attention than they have frequently received. The prejudice long existing in this country against the Apocrypha as a whole has told heavily against two at any rate of these booklets; and he who attempts to inve

[The text of the 'Additions' used throughout is that of Dr. Swete's Old Testament in Greek , Vol. III. ed. 2, Cambridge, 1899.] [The text of the 'Additions' used throughout is that of Dr. Swete's Old Testament in Greek , Vol. III. ed. 2, Cambridge, 1899.]...

These Additions differ from the other Apocryphal books, except the "rest of" Esther, in not claiming to be separate works, but appearing as supplements to a canonical book. The Song of the Three Children takes its assumed place between vv. 23 and 24 of Dan. iii.; the History of Susanna in the language of the A.V. is "set apart from the beginning of Daniel"; and Bel and the Dragon is "cut off from the end of" the same book. The first of these additions alone has an organic connection with the mai

As to the position of these pieces, whether in or out of the canon, it is probable, speaking generally, that those who used the Hebrew Bible, or versions uninfluenced by the LXX, disregarded them as not being part of Holy Scripture; and that those who used the LXX, or its versions, accepted them, either with or without hesitation. Under the chapters entitled "Early Christian Literature" it will be seen that those were by no means wanting who appear to attribute in practical use canonical authori

vv. 1, 2. Narrative in continuation of the canonical text, describing the procedure of the three children in the furnace. 3-22. Azarias' confession (3-10), and prayer (11-22), on behalf of them all. 23-28. Narrative describing the fire, the descent of the Angel, and the happy result. 29-68. The Song of praise itself, which may be subdivided thus: God directly addressed in blessing (29-34); after all God's works, celestial objects are addressed, including Angels [4] (35-41); objects of the lower

The tendency of the arrangement of the Song proper is to descend from generals to particulars. It has a refrain at the end of each verse, slightly differing in those preliminary verses which are addressed to the Lord Himself, and wanting in the last three. The rendering of the refrain in the preliminary verses does not seem very happy in its English (A.V. and K.V.). Forming, as it does, an integral portion of the third chapter of the Greek Daniel, the principal MSS. give the Song, in that place,

vv. 1-4. Susanna—her husband, family, and house. 5,6. Two newly-appointed Elders resort thither for official purposes. 7-14. How they yielded to the 'lust of the eye,' and laid their plot. 15-21. How they attempted to carry it out. 22-26. Susanna's soliloquy and cry. 27-41. The Elders' false accusation in private and in public, resulting in her condemnation to death. 42-44. Her prayer. 45-49. The inspiration of Daniel to clear her. 50-59. He re-opens the case, and proves the Elders to be false.

50-59. He re-opens the case, and proves the Elders to be false. 60-62. The death-penalty is transferred to them, and Susanna is delivered, 63, 64. Whose family thank God; while Daniel's reputation is established. N.B.—It is not clear why the 'heading' or 'contents' in the A.V. begins with v. 16. Cf. the heading of Bel and the Dragon for a similar ignoring of the early verses, as also that of I. Macc. i. תִּרְמׄס כְּפִיר וְתַנִּין (תהל׳ צא׳ יג׳)...

v. 1, 2. Introduces Cyrus and Daniel. 3. How Bel was worshipped by the Babylonians. 4-7. Discussion as to Bel's worship [60] between the King and Daniel. 8, 9. The King enquires of Bel's priests, and says that they or Daniel must die. 10-14. The test agreed upon to prove whether Bel partook of the offerings or no. 15-22. Decided in the negative by discovery of the Priests' trick, who are slain and their idol destroyed. 23. Introduces the other object of worship [60] , the Dragon. 24-27. Conversa

28, 29. Anger of the Babylonians with them both. 30-32. They cause Daniel to be cast into the lions' den. 33-40. He is miraculously saved by Habakkuk. 40, 42. The King acknowledges the Lord, sets Daniel free, and delivers his persecutors to the fate intended for the prophet. [60] In each case it is not clear from the text that the 'worship' consisted in anything else than supplying food. [Endnote: N.B.—It is unaccountable why the 'heading' in A.V. begins with v. 19. Cf. Sus. for a similar peculi