Tobit 3

Verse 1. Then, retiring, verse 25.—Tears. He manifests no degree of impatience. Calmet.

Verse 2. Judgment. Even in punishing, God remembers mercy, ( Bible.) and never fails to perform what he has promised.

Verse 3. Parents, so as to punish me on their account. Menochius.—The Scripture frequently seems to indicate that this is the case; (Exodus 20:5) and the Church still prays, Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents. Calmet.—But children are only punished when they imitate the wicked conduct of their ancestors: they may be afflicted, though innocent, as their virtue will thus be tried, and shine more gloriously. Bible.—The pagans, being convinced that God can be guilty of no injustice, and perceiving that people who appeared to be free from sin were yet unhappy, concluded that they were explaining the sins committed in another world. Plotin. ii. 13. Origen, prin. iii. Calmet.—This might arise from a confused notion of original sin. Pascal’s Thoughts. Bible.

Verse 6. Peace. Greek “that I may be dissolved, and return to the earth; (lit. become earth) because it is more advantageous for me to die than to live, since I have heard false reproaches, and am much grieved. Command that I may be freed from this necessity, to go to my eternal place.” Bible.

Verse 7. Rages. In the Greek it is Ecbatana which was also called Rages. For there were two cities in Media of name of Rages: Raguel dwelt in one of them and Gabelus in the other. Challoner. Menochius.—Profane authors mention a Rages in the vicinity of Ecbatana. Diod. Bib. 19.—It may here denote the province. Worthington.

Verse 8. Asmodeus, “the fire of Media.” Hebrew “king of the devils,” of that country, exciting people to lust, ( Menochius. Serar. q. 8.) and destroying them. Worthington.—Unto her. Greek and Hebrew intimate, when they first entered the nuptial chamber. Calmet. 6:14.

Greek demon.

Verse 9. Murder. Greek “Dost thou not understand that thou hast suffocated thy husbands. Thou has already had seven husbands, and has not received the name of any of them. Why dost thou strike us on their account? If they be dead, go along with them. May we,” and so forth Bible.

Verse 10. At. Greek and Hebrew “Hearing these things she was much grieved, so as to be unable to breath; ( Bible. ωστε απαγξασθαι) or, on the point of strangling herself.” Grot. Calmet.—But this interpretation is groundless, (Houbigant) and very injurious to Sara. Bible.—She could not entertain the thought without sin. Yet the Jews had very relaxed notions on this head. Judges 16:30. 1 Kings 31:4. God approved the conduct of Sara. Calmet.—Greek continues, “and she said, I am the only daughter of my father. If I do this thing, (as the servants suggested) it will be a disgrace for him … and she prayed before the window; and said, Blessed,” verse 13. Bible.—There is no mention of the three days. Hebrew and Syr. also omit verse 16 to 24. Calmet.

Greek Hades.

Verse 13. Name. Greek “Blessed art thou O Lord, my God, and blessed the name of thy glory, holy and glorious for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever.” Bible.—As she prayed for a long time, the Vulg. gives some sentences; and the Greek and Hebrew others. Serar. Salien. Menochius.

Verse 15. Earth. Holy men have thus desired to die, as was the case with Moses, Elias, Job, and Saint Paul provided God was willing. Menochius.

Verse 16. Coveted, through impure love. Greek “I am pure from all the sin of a man, and I have not defiled my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of our captivity. I am only child,” and so forth Bible.—Lust: a very high ecomium; which Sara mentions without vanity, placing her confidence in God. Menochius. Proverbs 20:9.

Verse 17. Play, lasciviously, ( Menochius.) or dance. Hugo. Exodus 32:1.

Greek demon.