Brief Notes on Tobit

(Originally Written June 10, 2008 in the Journal)

This will be the first time I've read the Book of Tobit. To be honest, I'm pretty excited because I'm reading a part of the Bible I've never read before. True, the Protestant faith does not hold it to be inspired or canonical. But, it is in the Bible I have in front of me and Augustine, whom I respect deeply, quotes it.

The Book of Tobit was written in the 2nd century BC

Notes on The Book of Tobit

Chapter 1

Tobit (meaning YHWH is good) was the son of Tobiel (meaning God is good). Tobeil was the son of Hannaniel (God is merciful) and was of the tribe of Naphtali.

His family was deported from Samaria when Shalmanesser, king of Assyria defeated Israel.

Tobit lived in Nineveh. When Tobit lived in Samaria, he continued to worship the Lord in Jerusalem, not committing the sins of Jeroboam.

Tobit married Anna, who bore him a son named Tobiah.

Tobit became important to Shalmanesser in Nineveh because he served the Lord unswervingly.

Tobit purchased for the king and made numerous trips to Media, where he deposited his own money.

Tobit lost everything because he buried some Jews killed by the king.

Chapter 2

Tobit was blinded by bird droppings during the Festival of the Booths.

Chapter 3

Tobit fell into despair and prayed to God for death.

Chapter 4

In Media, Sarah was accused of killing her seven husbands. In reality though, the demon Asmodeus had killed them.

She went to hang herself, but decided not to so as to spare her aging father from shame. Sarah prayed to God to die.

God heard both prayers and send the angel Raphael to answer them both.

Tobit called his son to give him instructions. Tobit instructed Tobiah on how to live a moral life.

Giving to the needy is very important.

Tobit told Tobiah that he had money deposited in Media and that he should go and retrieve it.

Chapter 5

Tobiah enlisted Raphael as his guide to Media, but he did not know Raphael was an angel.

Tobit asked Raphael whose family he was. Raphael replied that he was Azariah, son of Hananiah (a member of Tobit's own family).

Tobiah and Raphael left Nineveh for Media.

Chapter 6

The two camped at the Tigris River for the night. A large fish attacked Tobiah and he called for help. Raphael told Tobiah to pull the fish ashore and he did so. Raphael told him to cut out the gall, heart and liver because they were good medicines.

The heart, if you burn it around a person afflicted by a demon will cause the demon to leave it. The gall, if you rub it on a man's eyes who is blind will cause the man to see again.

Raphael told Tobiah that it was his right to marry Sarah as he was the closest relative. Tobiah objected because he knew the demon who had killed her seven previous husbands.

Raphael told him to burn the fish liver and heart and pray before having intercourse with her and the demon would be driven away. "But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed" (Tobit 6:18, New American Bible).

Chapter 7

Tobiah and Raphael met Raguel, the father of Sarah. Raguel rejoiced when he learned Tobiah was Tobit's son and wept when he learned of Tobiah's blindness.

Tobiah and Sarah were married by Raguel according to the Law of Moses.

Chapter 8

Tobiah did as Raphael told him and the demon fled into the desert. Raphael pursued him and bound him. When Tobiah did not die Raguel threw a wedding feast for fourteen days.

Chapter 9

Tobit sent Raphael to continue to get the money. Raphael met Gabael and retrieved the money. He brought Gabael to Tobiah to join the wedding feast.

Chapter 10

Tobiah's parents became very anxious when he did not return home. Tobiah and Sarah then left to return to the house of Tobit.

Chapter 11

Tobiah smeared the fish gall on his father's eyes and it burnt. He then pulled off the cataracts so that Tobit could see.

Tobit blessed the Lord for giving him his sight back.

Tobit learned of his son's marriage and rushed out to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people saw him walking without a guide they were amazed.

Chapter 12

Tobit and Tobiah decided to pay Raphael half of all the wealth he had brought back. Raphael extolled them to be righteous and revealed that he was an angel. Then Raphael ascended into heaven.

Chapter 13

Tobit became old and told Tobiah to flee Nineveh with his family because Nineveh was to be destroyed as predicted in Nahum.

Tobit died and was buried. When Tobiah's mother died she was buried next to Tobit.

Tobiah left Nineveh and settled in Media with Raguel.

Tobiah lived to 117 years old. He saw the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians and then he died.