The Story of Susanna in Syriac: A Preliminary Survey of Diversity

This pilot study outlines the diverse and at times interwoven textual traditions of the story of Susanna in the Syriac Bible. There are three different versions of the story aside from the Syrohexapla and the revision of Jacob of Edessa, namely the ‘Peshitta’ version, another here dubbed ‘Sinai Susanna’, and finally the so-called ‘Harklean’ version. This paper seeks to describe the kinds of relationships that exist between these textual traditions as well as to suggest what type of critical edition might best display these connections. Additionally, the Sitz im Leben of the ‘Harklean’ version is briefly discussed, reflecting on whether the version’s unique literary features betray a Jewish or a Christian background.