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And Tobit wrote a prayer for rejoicing, and said, “Blessed is God who lives forever! Blessed is his kingdom!
Verse 1. Tobias. Greek “Tobit wrote a prayer for exultation, and said.” Bible.
For he scourges, and shows mercy. He leads down to the grave, and brings up again. There is no one who will escape his hand.
Verse 2. Hell; death. Menochius.—Out of hell there is no redemption or return. Bible. 1 Kennicott. 2:6.
Greek Hades.
Give thanks to him before the Gentiles, all you children of Israel! For he has scattered us among them.
Declare his greatness, there. Extol him before all the living, because he is our Lord, and God is our Father forever.
Verse 4. Therefore, is not in Greek. Bible.—But God had the good of the Gentiles in view, that they might become acquainted with his law, and behold the conduct of his saints, Tobias, Esther, Daniel, and so forth ( Calmet.) as well as to punish his people. Bible.—Temporal afflictions are sometimes for the spiritual good of others. Worthington.—Greek “because he has scattered you among them. There shew forth his grandeur, and extol him before everyone living: for he is our Lord and God, our Father for ever. Yea, he hath chastised us in our iniquities, again he will have mercy, and will gather us from all nations where he has scattered us, if ye be converted to him with all your heart, and with all your soul, to act sincerely. Then he will turn towards you, and will not hide his face from you; and ye shall behold what he will do with you, and ye shall confess to him with all your mouth, and bless the Lord of power, and extol the king of ages. I,” and so forth verse 7. Bible.
He will scourge us for our iniquities, and will again show mercy, and will gather us out of all the nations among whom you are all scattered.
Verse 5. Mercy. He can discover nothing in the sinner. Calmet.
If you turn to him with your whole heart and with your whole soul, to do truth before him, then he will turn to you, and won’t hide his face from you. See what he will do with you. Give him thanks with your whole mouth. Bless the Lord of righteousness. Exalt the everlasting King. I give him thanks in the land of my captivity, and show his strength and majesty to a nation of sinners. Turn, you sinners, and do righteousness before him. Who can tell if he will accept you and have mercy on you?
I exalt my God. My soul exalts the King of heaven, and rejoices in his greatness.
Verse 7. Nation; the Israelites, ( Menochius.) whom he has chastised. Bible.—Ninive was still flourishing. Yet the Greek seems to refer to the Assyrian idolaters, ( Calmet.) or to both. Greek “and I shew his power and magnificence to a sinful nation. Who knows if he will love and shew his mercy to you? I exalt my God, and my soul magnifies the King of heaven, and shall gladly proclaim his greatness: let all speak and confess to him in justice.”
Let all men speak, and let them give him thanks in Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will scourge you for the works of your sons, and will again have mercy on the sons of the righteous.
Give thanks to the Lord with goodness, and bless the everlasting King, that his tabernacle may be built in you again with joy, and that he may make glad in you those who are captives, and love in you forever those who are miserable.
Many nations will come from afar to the name of the Lord God with gifts in their hands, even gifts to the King of heaven. Generations of generations will praise you, and sing songs of rejoicing.
Verse 11. Jerusalem. What is prophetically delivered here, and in the following chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is partly to be understood of the rebuilding the city after the captivity, and partly of the spiritual Jerusalem, which is the Church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in heaven. Challoner.—It would seem that Jerusalem arid the temple were now destroyed, which is contrary to chronology, as Manasses had not yet began to reign, ( Calmet.) and Tobias died when he had been on the throne fifty-two years. Houbigant.—But the Greek shews that ( Calmet.) he speaks prophetically: ( Worthington.) “Jerusalem, holy city, He will chastise thee for the works of thy children, and again he will shew mercy on the children of the just. Confess to the Lord, for he is good; and bless the king of ages, that his tabernacle may be again rebuilt in thee, with joy.” Bible.—The Hebrew of Munster had only a few verses of this and the following chapter. Calmet.
All those who hate you are cursed. All those who love you forever will be blessed.
Verse 12. Call. Greek “cause thy captives to rejoice in thee, and love in thee all the distressed unto eternity.”
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for the sons of the righteous; for they will be gathered together and will bless the Lord of the righteous.
Verse 13. Thou. Greek “Many nations from afar shall come to the name of the Lord God, with presents in their hands, presents for the king of heaven; race after race shall praise thee, and give exultation. They,” and so forth verse 16. Bible.—How many potent monarchs of Persia, Egypt, Rome, and so forth honoured the temple of Jerusalem! How many wars have been carried on by Christian potentates, to rescue that favourite spot out of the hands of infidels! all out of respect for Christ. These priests are still better verified in his Church, to which the powers of the earth have submitted, ( Calmet.) esteeming it an honour and happiness to be members of this holy society. Bible.
Oh blessed are those who love you. They will rejoice for your peace. Blessed are all those who mourned for all your scourges; because they will rejoice for you when they have seen all your glory. They will be made glad forever.
Verse 14. Holy. This soil has been carried into distant countries, out of reverence, (4 Kennicott. 5:17. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei xxii. 8.) and has been honoured with miracles. Saint Gregory Turon. i. 7.
Let my soul bless God the great King.
For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires, emeralds, and precious stones; your walls and towers and battlements with pure gold.
Verse 16. Despise. Greek “hate thee, and blessed shall be those who love thee for ever.” Bible.
The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl, carbuncle, and stones of Ophir.
Verse 17. But. Greek “rejoice, and exult for the children of the just, because they shall be gathered together, and shall bless the Lord of the just.” Bible.—The people of God, in the old law, have often this title, as those of the new are styled saints. Both have a claim to this prediction. The Jews became more faithful after the captivity, so that the most cruel persecution of Epiphanes could not overcome their resolution; and the world was astonished at the courage of the martyrs, and the exemplary conduct of the primitive Christians. Calmet.
All her streets will say, “Hallelujah!” and give praise, saying, “Blessed be God, who has exalted you forever!”
Verse 18. Peace. Greek adds, “blessed are those who have mourned on account of thy chastisements, because they shall rejoice, beholding all thy glory, and their joy shall endure for ever.” Bible.