This week Hippolytus discusses the passage in the book of Susannah where the two wicked elders trap her in her husband’s garden and try to force her to commit adultery with them.
And as her maidens went out of the garden, the elders rose and said to Susannah “Behold, the doors of the garden are locked and no one can see us and we lust for you. Therefore consent to use and sleep with us. But if not, we will testify against you that a young man was with you”
The elders are here essentially threatening Susannah with death if she does not consent to them. Hippolytus had previously stated that the two elders represented two people groups, the Gentiles and the Jews, who were persecuting Hippolytus’ fellow Christians. He further elaborates on this:
For you may now also find these things fulfilled in the Church. For when the two peoples agree to destroy the lives of saints, they observe a fitting day and, after rushing in to the house of God, where people pray and hymn to God, they lay hold of them and drag them off and arrest them saying “Come, consent to us and sacrifice to our gods, but if not we will testify against you.” Of those not willing to sacrifice, they lead them to the court, charge them as practicing what is contrary to the decree of Caesar and condemn them to death.