T he only good news that we ought to know and remember is that Jesus Christ had already won the war against sin and death. He has made it possible for us to join Him in the afterlife. All we need now to do is accept Him as He is. God is alive today and it may be sometimes be difficult to see this. The world and its demonic nature has still made it look like that only worldly things matter and that the ultimate goal of each one is to achieve their own personal happiness. This is the biggest lie of all, that we should do all to make us happy. Individual happiness at the expense of someone else is the biggest deception of all. The truth is, our lives are never really about us. It is ultimately about God and about others. It is about how you can provide and give joy even at our own expense. This is the model of ultimate and genuine love that Jesus shown us at the cross. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s frie...
The Book of Tobit: A Detailed Summary
The Book of Tobit is a captivating narrative from the Apocrypha (or Deuterocanonical books), telling a story of faith, piety, divine intervention, and family devotion set amidst the Jewish diaspora. It follows the virtuous Tobit, his son Tobias, and a young woman named Sarah, whose lives are miraculously interwoven by the benevolent actions of the archangel Raphael. The book offers profound lessons on trusting God, caring for the poor, and the power of prayer. 🙏
Narrative Summary
The story unfolds in the Assyrian city of Nineveh, where many Israelites were exiled after the fall of the northern kingdom. It centers on two families who are unaware of each other's existence but whose fates become intertwined through divine providence.
Part 1: Tobit's Piety and Plight (Tobit 1-3)
Tobit's Righteousness: The book introduces Tobit, a devout Israelite living in exile in Nineveh. Despite the dangers and persecution, he faithfully observes the Law, gives generously to the poor, and courageously buries the bodies of fellow Jews who have been killed and left unburied. His unwavering faith is a central theme: "I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life." (Tobit 1:3).
Tobit's Blindness: As a reward for his piety, Tobit is struck blind after bird droppings fall into his eyes. This unexpected affliction, combined with financial hardship and the scorn of his wife Anna, leads him to despair.
Tobit's Prayer for Death: Overwhelmed by his suffering, Tobit prays a fervent prayer, asking God to take his life. He remembers the faithfulness of his ancestors and acknowledges God's justice, even in his pain. "Command that my life be taken from me... for it is better for me to die than to live." (Tobit 3:6).
Sarah's Distress: Simultaneously, in the distant city of Ecbatana, a young woman named Sarah is also praying for death. She has been married seven times, but each husband has been killed by a demon named Asmodeus on their wedding night, before the marriage could be consummated. She is unjustly tormented by her maidservants, who accuse her of killing her husbands.
Part 2: Raphael's Mission and Tobias's Journey (Tobit 4-8)
God hears both Tobit and Sarah's prayers and sends the archangel Raphael, disguised as a human named Azariah, to help them.
Tobit's Instructions to Tobias: Tobit, anticipating his death, gives his son Tobias wise counsel, urging him to always honor God, care for the poor, and seek a righteous wife. He also instructs Tobias to travel to Media to recover a sum of money he had deposited with a kinsman named Gabael years ago.
Meeting Azariah/Raphael: Tobias seeks a traveling companion and finds Azariah, who is actually Raphael in disguise. Raphael agrees to accompany Tobias.
The Fish and its Remedies: On their journey, as Tobias washes in the Tigris River, a large fish leaps out. Raphael instructs Tobias to catch it and remove its gall, heart, and liver, explaining their medicinal properties.
Arrival in Ecbatana and Marriage to Sarah: Raphael guides Tobias to the home of Raguel, Sarah's father. Raphael encourages Tobias to marry Sarah, assuring him that he will be protected from the demon Asmodeus. Despite his initial fear due to the fate of Sarah's previous husbands, Tobias agrees.
Driving Away Asmodeus: On their wedding night, following Raphael's instructions, Tobias burns the fish's heart and liver. The smoke drives away Asmodeus, who is then bound by Raphael in the deserts of Egypt. Tobias and Sarah then pray to God, giving thanks for their deliverance and a blessed marriage. "Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors... you made Adam and you made Eve his wife as a helper and support... Now, Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find compassion and that we may grow old together." (Tobit 8:5-7).
Part 3: Healing and Revelation (Tobit 9-14)
Retrieving the Money: While Tobias is celebrating his wedding, Raphael travels to Gabael to retrieve Tobit's money.
Return to Nineveh and Tobit's Healing: Tobias and Sarah return to Nineveh. Following Raphael's instructions, Tobias smears the fish's gall on his father's eyes, and Tobit's sight is miraculously restored. Tobit praises God, declaring, "Blessed be God who lives forever, and blessed be his kingdom!" (Tobit 13:1).
Raphael's Revelation: Tobit and Tobias offer to reward Azariah, but Raphael finally reveals his true identity as an archangel, sent by God to answer their prayers. "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and who go in and out before the glory of the Holy One." (Tobit 12:15). He then ascends to heaven.
Tobit's Exhortations and Death: Tobit, filled with joy, composes a hymn of praise and gives further instructions to Tobias, prophesying the destruction of Nineveh and the eventual rebuilding of Jerusalem's Temple. He urges Tobias to leave Nineveh before its destruction.
Tobias's Later Life: Tobias eventually leaves Nineveh, settling with his in-laws in Ecbatana. He cares for them until their deaths, and then lives a long, prosperous life, witnessing the destruction of Nineveh, before dying at a venerable old age, praising God.
Historical Facts and Origins
The Book of Tobit is considered deuterocanonical by Catholics and Orthodox Christians, meaning it is part of their biblical canon, while Protestants typically place it in the Apocrypha.
Dating and Language: The earliest manuscripts of Tobit are in Aramaic and Hebrew, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (specifically from Qumran Cave 4, dating to the 2nd-1st centuries BCE). The book was likely originally composed in Aramaic, with a Greek translation (the Septuagint) being widely known.
Historical Setting: The story is set in the 8th-7th centuries BCE, during the Assyrian Empire, specifically during the reign of Shalmaneser V and Sennacherib (Tobit 1:2, 15). This places the characters within the context of the exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. However, the book itself was likely written much later, probably between 250 and 175 BCE, during the Hellenistic period.
Genre: Tobit is a didactic wisdom tale or a "moral novella." While it places itself in a historical setting, its primary purpose is not to be a historically verifiable account but to teach moral and theological lessons through an engaging story.
Key Themes and Purpose:
Divine Providence: The core message is that God hears the prayers of the righteous and actively intervenes in human affairs through His angels to bring healing, deliverance, and justice.
Piety and Observance of the Law: Tobit is a model of faithfulness to the Mosaic Law (e.g., burial of the dead, tithing), emphasizing that one can live righteously even in a foreign land.
Care for the Poor (Almsgiving): Tobit consistently teaches the importance of charity and sharing one's wealth with the needy. "Give alms from your possessions... Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor" (Tobit 4:7).
Family Values: The book emphasizes the sanctity of marriage, parental wisdom, and filial piety.
The Power of Prayer: Both Tobit and Sarah's prayers for death are heard, leading not to death, but to miraculous intervention and healing.
Demonology: The demon Asmodeus and the role of angels are prominent, reflecting aspects of Jewish thought during the Second Temple period.
In conclusion, the Book of Tobit is a charming and spiritually rich narrative that, through a fantastical journey and divine intervention, affirms God's care for His faithful people, particularly those who live righteously and compassionately in the face of adversity.