Tobit 2

1

Now when I had come home again, and my wife Anna was restored to me, and my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared for me, and I sat down to eat.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 1. House. The law authorized such feasts. Deuteronomy 12:12 and 14:28. Tobias complied with it, by inviting also the poor servants of God. Greek “I lay down to eat.” This custom prevailed in the East. Calmet.

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2

I saw abundance of meat, and I said to my son, “Go and bring whatever poor man you find of our kindred, who is mindful of the Lord. Behold, I wait for you.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Tribe. Greek “brethren indigent, and who remembers God.” Bible.—All had not given way to idolatry. Worthington.

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3

Then he came, and said, “Father, one of our race is strangled, and has been cast out in the marketplace.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Street. Asarhaddon did not protect the Israelites, which renders the elevation of Akikar to the highest dignities suspicious. Calmet.—But the king and his minister might not be able to prevent all murders. Bible.—Fasting. The ancients seldom eat anything before noon. Greek “Before I had tasted, I leaped up and took him to a house, till the sun should be set,” ( Bible.) to prevent any danger from the Assyrians. Menochius.—lf he did not employ another, he must have eaten alone, being rendered unclean. This seems to have been the case; and hence he did not enter his own house, but lay down by the wall. Calmet.—Greek and Hebrew mention, that he washed himself before he eat. Bible.

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4

Before I had tasted anything, I sprang up, and took him up into a chamber until the sun had set.

5

Then I returned, washed myself, ate my bread in heaviness,

6

and remembered the prophecy of Amos, as he said, “Your feasts will be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.

7

So I wept: and when the sun had set, I went and dug a grave, and buried him.

8

My neighbors mocked me, and said, “He is no longer afraid to be put to death for this matter; and yet he fled away. Behold, he buries the dead again.”

9

The same night I returned from burying him, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted; and my face was uncovered.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 9. But. This version is not in Greek or Hebrew Calmet.—True zeal is not repressed by fear, as charity expels it. 1 John 4. Worthington.

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10

I didn’t know that there were sparrows in the wall. My eyes were open and the sparrows dropped warm dung into my eyes, and white films came over my eyes. I went to the physicians, and they didn’t help me; but Achiacharus nourished me, until I went into Elymais.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 10. Now. Greek “And that very night I was.”—He came. Greek “I lay myself down, being defiled, beside the wall of the court, and my face was uncovered.” Bible.—The touching the dead rendered a person unclean. Numbers 19:11.

EXPLANATION

Some authorities read until he went.

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11

My wife Anna wove cloth in the women’s chambers,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Swallow’s. Greek denotes “sparrows,” or any other small birds: στρουθια. Serarius.—Eyes. Greek observes that they were “opened.” Hebrew “by chance.” Yet “hares, and many men, sleep with their eyes open,” (Pliny xi. 37.) as was here the case. Saint Athanasius Synops.—lf not, the dung might insinuate itself by rubbing. It is extremely caustic. Vales. 42. Aldrov.17. and so forth—The blindness of Tobias was only a suspension of sight. Calmet.—Blind. Greek “white specks or skins came upon my eyes, and I went to the physicians, but they afforded me no relief. But Achiachar fed me ( Bible.) till I (or he) went to Elymais;” Hebrew of Fagius, “into Germany.” Calmet.—Almniim. Bible.

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12

and sent the work back to the owners. They on their part paid her wages, and also gave her a kid.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 12. Now. This is omitted in Greek and Hebrew as far as verse 19. Saint Ambrose says beautifully, that Tobias “was more grieved that he could yield no assistance to others, than for the loss of his sight.”

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13

But when it came to my house, it began to cry, and I said to her, “Where did this kid come from? Is it stolen? Give it back to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat anything that is stolen.”

14

But she said, “It has been given to me for a gift more than the wages.” I didn’t believe her, and I asked her to return it to the owners; and I was ashamed of her. But she answered and said to me, “Where are your alms and your righteous deeds? Behold, you and all your works are known.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Greek all things are known with you.

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