elder (of the community)

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated as “elders” in English is translated in the Danish Bibelen 2020 as folkets ledere or “leaders of the people.”

Martin Ehrensvärd, one of the translators, explains: “The term ‘elder’ turned out to pose a particularly thorny problem. In traditional bibles, you can find elders all of over the place and they never pose a problem for a translator, they are just always elders. But how to find a contemporary term for this semi-official, complex position? This may have been our longest-standing problem. A couple of times we thought we had the solution, and then implemented it throughout the texts, only to find out that it didn’t work. Like when we used city council or village council, depending on the context. In the end we felt that the texts didn’t work with such official terms, and throughout the years in the desert, these terms didn’t make much sense. Other suggestions were ‘the eldest and wisest’, ‘the respected citizens’, ‘the Israelites with a certain position in society’, ‘the elder council’ –- and let me point out that these terms sound better in Danish than in English (‘de fremtrædende borgere,’ ‘de mest fremtrædende israelitter,’ ‘alle israelitter med en vis position,’ ‘de ældste og de klogeste,’ ‘ældsterådet’). In the end we just said ‘leaders of the people.’ After a lot of hand-wringing, it turned out that we actually found a term that worked well. So, we had to give up conveying the fact that they were old, but the most important point is that they were community leaders.” (Source: Ehrensvärd in HIPHIL Novum 8/2023, p. 81ff. )

The German das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) translates likewise as “leader of the people” (Anführer des Volkes).

Translation commentary on Susanna 1:34

If integrated into the book of Daniel: 13.34.

The two elders: Once again Good News Translation refers to the men as “the two judges” and Contemporary English Version has simply “The two men.”

Stood up in the midst of the people: This is literal, but the point is that they are in public, where everyone can see them. “Stood up in front of the people” (Good News Translation) can mean this in English; the phrase does not rule out Susanna and the elders being surrounded.

Laid their hands upon her head: It is with good reason that Good News Translation adds here the clause “and began making their accusations against her,” and Contemporary English Version adds “so they could officially accuse her.” For one reason, readers need to know the significance of the laying on of hands; it is hardly to calm her fears. For another, three things are going on here simultaneously: the elders have their hands on Susanna’s head, she is crying, and they are making the accusation quoted in verses 36-40. All the while they are talking, their hands are on her head and she is crying. To help convey this picture, Good News Translation has “began making their accusations” in this verse and “She was crying” in the next one.

Placing hands on the head is mentioned in three different contexts in the Old Testament other than here. Priests laid their hands on the heads of sacrificial animals (for instance, Lev 8.14). Aaron placed his hand on the head of the scapegoat before sending it off (Lev 16.20-22). And in Lev 24.10-14 those who heard a man blaspheme the Lord’s name placed their hands on his head before he was stoned to death. Elements of all these events are present in the Susanna story. “Witnesses” lay hands on her head, as in Lev 24. She is certainly to be sacrificed. And since she is innocent and those who lay their hands upon her head are guilty, the scapegoat ritual is also recalled.

Rabbinic law provides rather detailed procedures for testing the reliability of witnesses, which are notably not followed here. The argument has been made that the book of Susanna originated as an attack by the Pharisees on the unfair judicial practices of the Sadducees. Strong arguments can be made in favor of this, but they are somewhat weakened by the fact that when Daniel appears, his cross-examination of the witnesses does not follow proper procedures either. For a discussion of this, see Moore (pages 87-88).

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.