Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. When. Greek and Hebrew and the old Vulg. ( Calmet.) “That very day Tobit remembered the money which he had deposited with Gabael … and said within himself, I begged for death; why do I not call Tobias, my son that I may declare it to him before I die? And calling him, he said: Son, if I die, bury me, and despise not thy mother.” Bible.—He gives him fourteen instructions, in imitation of Moses and David. 3 Kennicott. 2. Worthington.
Verse 3. Life. Saint Augustine (Conf. x. 34) cries out, “O Light, which Tobias had in view, when these corporal eyes being closed, he taught his son the way of life.”
Verse 5. By me. Greek adds, “in the same sepulchre,” like the patriarchs. Pope Leo decreed: statuimus unumquemque in sepulchro suorum majorum jacere.
Verse 7. Substance. Be not liberal of another’s property. Greek adds, “and let not thy eye be envious, when thou givest alms.” Do it generously. Calmet.—The same doctrine of the reward of good works, occurs Daniel 4:24. Worthington.
Verse 9. Little. God regards the affections more than the gift. Calmet.
Verse 11. Sin, provided faith, and so forth be not wanting. Menochius.—When the Scripture seems to attribute salvation to one virtue, to faith, repentance, and so forth it always presupposes that the heart is free from all mortal guilt. Bible.—Alms deeds may procure a fresh supply of graces. Menochius.—Darkness, or hell, which is thus represented. Matthew 8:12 and 22:13. Ephesians 6:12.
Verse 12. Give it, with true charity. 1 Corinthians 13:3. Calmet.
Verse 13. Crime, or any commerce with another. Bible.—Greek and Hebrew add, conformable to the law, (Exodus 34:16.) “And take not a strange woman, who may not be of thy father’s tribe, as we are the sons of the prophets, Noe, &c … All these married from among their brethren, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land.” Bible.
Verse 14. Perdition of the angels, of Adam, and so forth Calmet. Genesis 3:5. Menochius.
Verse 15. At all, after sunset. Deuteronomy 24:14.
Verse 16. Another. Behold the grand maxim of fraternal charity. Matthew 8:12. Alex. Severus was so much pleased with it, that he had it often repeated by a herald, and inscribed on public edifices. What thou wouldst not have done to thee, do not thou to another. Lamprid.—Greek and Hebrew add a caution against drunkenness and drunken companions. Fagius has another against revenge; and the old Vulg. “give not way to wickedness.”
Verse 17. Eat. Greek “give.”—Naked. Greek adds, “give in alms all thy superfluities, And let not thy eye repine,” and so forth as verse 7.
Verse 18. Burial, or sepulchre. See Baruch 6:26. Sirach 7:37 and 30:18. The Jews followed this custom, which was common to the pagans, but from very different motives. The latter supposed that the souls fed on such meats. The Jews, and afterwards Christians, did it to feed the indigent, that they might pray for the deceased. These feasts were sometimes abused, and on that account forbidden by Saint Ambrose, to whose authority S. Monica submitted. Saint Augustine Conf. vi. 3. See Const. Apost. viii. 24. Calmet.—Just man, who may be supposed to have died in God’s peace. Bible.—It is of no service to pray and give alms for the damned.—Wicked, so as to encourage their evil conduct. Menochius.—Works of mercy extend to the dead. Worthington.
Verse 20. Abide. Greek “prosper,” ( Menochius.) or “be directed. For every nation has not counsel: but this same Lord bestows all good things. And whensoever he will, he humbles, as he pleases. And now, my son, remember my commands, and let them not be effaced from thy heart. Now, also, I make known unto thee the ten talents of silver, which I deposited with Gabael,” and so forth Bible.
Verse 21. And I. The Greek and so forth take no notice of this, ( Calmet.) nor of the following verse. Bible.—The virtuous dispose of their temporal effects by will, and so forth Worthington.
Verse 23. We lead. Greek “if we grow poor. Thou hast much if thou fear,” and so forth
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