Ãâó: http://archive.catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9410otg.asp
O l d T e s t a m e n t G u i d e
Tobit
By Antonio Fuentes
THE book of Tobit together with Judith and Esther form a little
group which Latin and Greek editions place among the historical books after Ezra
and Nehemiah. It takes its name from its two main characters, father and son;
the Septuagint, to distinguish them, calls the father Tobit and the son Tobias,
the name being an abbreviation of the Hebrew title tobhiyyahu (= God is
good).
The book which we have derives from a lost Semitic original. Jerome used a
Chaldean (Aramaic) text, which also is no longer extant, to produce the Latin
translation included in the Vulgate. The Qumran discoveries include a few Hebrew
and Aramaic fragments of this book, but our main source for the text is the
Greek Septuagint of which we have four separate recensions, which are divided
into two groups--the Vatican and Alexandrian manuscripts on the one hand, and
the Sinaitic Codex and the Vetus latina on the other.
Jews and Protestants regard the book of Tobit as apocryphal although they read
it with respect and regard it as containing true history. The Catholic Church
recognized it as an inspired book very early on, in the patristic period,
placing it among the canonical books in the West from the 382 Roman synod
forward, and in the East from the Council of Constantinople in 692. We do not
have the name of the human author but he could well have been a Jew in the
D.aspora and could have written it in Egypt, in Aramaic perhaps, in the third or
fourth century B.C. The words of the angel at the end of his assignment
(12:20)--"Write in a book everything that has happened"--or the fact
that the first three chapters are written in the first person, are probably a
literary device often found in narratives, used by someone writing in a later
period, but still writing under divine inspiration.
The story given in Tobit is an episode of family history. All the indications
are that the sacred writer is reporting something that really happened: He gives
the family tree of the main people involved and is very precise about details of
geography and historical chronology; however, we cannot exclude the possibility
of some passages being fictitious, the writer's purpose being one of spiritual
and moral teaching rather than history proper.
Tobit, a Jew of the tribe of Naphtali who had been deported to Nineveh, was a
man of exceptional piety and charity. He soon gained the trust of King
Shalmaneser but he later got into trouble because he buried some Jews executed
by the king. Everything goes wrong for him: His property is confiscated, he
loses his sight, his friends and even his wife taunt him. In a moment of severe
tribulation he begs God to let him die because life holds no more for him.
At around the same time, Raguel, a relative of his in Ecbatana, is saddened to
see his daughter Sarah reproached by her maids because her seven husbands have
each died on their wedding night, slain they think by the evil demon Asmodeus.
Like Tobit, Sarah also prays to God to end her life. But God listens to both
their prayers and comes to their rescue, to turn their sorrow into joy.
He sends his angel Raphael, under the name of Azarias, to accompany and guide
Tobit's son Tobias to the house of Raguel. This would be a stage on his journey
because he was headed for Rages to collect money his father lent to a man called
Gabriel. After being blessed by Tobit they start out; the angel saves Tobias
from a dangerous fish and suggests that he marry Sarah. He also gives him the
means to cure his father's blindness. Everything the angel predicts happens:
Tobias marries Sarah, who is freed from demonic influence; the angel collects
the money in Rages and returns with the young married couple to Nineveh, where
Tobit miraculously recovers his sight.
The story told in Tobit contains a whole series of teachings which are useful
for the education of conscience and also encourage people to practice virtue,
especially virtues to do with the works of mercy. Parents feel urged to educate
their chil dren in the love of God and in the practice of prudence, generosity,
etc. and themselves to imitate Tobit's patience when they encounter unforeseen
difficulties in their family life, even to the point of their own relatives
turning their backs on them.
The book also shows that things which we normally regard as difficulties or
misfortunes can become blessings if accepted and appreciated as coming from
God's hands. God is the Father who never abandons us; he is in fact watching
over us night and day because he desires only our good.
Additionally, the book shows us that angels are the protectors of men. Raphael
reveals this when he says: "I will not conceal anything from you. ... God
sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the
seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the
presence of the glory of the Holy One. . . . Do not be afraid; you will be safe.
But praise God for ever. For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the
will of our God. Therefore praise him forever. All these days I merely appeared
to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. And now give
thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me" (Tob. 12:11-20).
Tobit's conversation with his son contains important teaching on marriage
(4:12ff), stressing the purity of mind and heart with which a couple should
approach marriage. Marriage, we know, is a lifelong union of one man and one
woman; they become one (Matt. 19:15, 1 Cor. 6:16). Jesus will raise the marriage
contract to the status of a sacrament (cf. Prov. 2:17, Mal. 2:14), thereby
giving the true interpretation of what marriage was at the beginning of the
human race (Matt. 19:4-8).
Tobit also stresses the importance of love of one's neighbor, which should lead
us to act justly: "What you hate, do not do to any one" (4:15); to
accept the advice of prudent people; and to praise God always and ask him to
keep us on the right road. It also emphasizes the essential need for works of
mercy, especially alms giving. Tobias learned from his father to lead a life of
service and to be appreciative to God for everything. He is an example to
Christian families, especially those concerned about the religious or spiritual
education of their children
Antonio Fuentes teaches Scripture at the University of Navarre in Spain.