Orient as praiseworthy to marry among one's own kindred. Ver. 10. Bread of the Gentiles, i. e., food that was forbidden by the law of Moses. Cf. Judith x. 5; Acts x. 14. Ver. 11. Συνετήρησα τὴν ψυχήν μου. Most of the old commentators (as A. V.) hold that the substantive simply represents the personal proBut it might also be taken in its usual It was the soul that needed to be kept; since it was not a matter of eating or not eating. in itse f considered, but of observing the Mosaic law. noun. sense. among the Jews as the greatest disgrace that one's body should be left unburied after death. (See 1 Kings xiii. 22; xiv. 11.) As fugitive. The memorable defeat of Sennacherib before the walls of Jerusalem, through the special interposition of divine Providence, is probably referred to. It is often noticed by the later Jewish writers. See 1 Macc. vii. 41; 2 Macc. viii. 19; 3 Mace. vi. 5; Ecclus. xlviii. 21. Cf. Rawlinson, Ancient Mon., ii. 168. Ver. 19. Kal éкpúẞny. If this word is made dependent on ori. like eάnтw, we may suppose a hendiadys (ánтш круßdhν); or with Fritzsche Ver. 14. It is not meant that he went on only translate: " that I bury them and am concealed." one occasion into Media, but that he was accus-i. e., that I am the unknown one who buries them. tomed to go thither (enopeuóuny). See next verse. Ver. 21. Οὐ διῆλθον ἡμέρας (ἡμέραι) πεντήκοντα. Rages. An old city of Media, and of consid-This verb is sometimes used with the accusative erable importance. It is twice mentioned in the of time in the sense of pass, go by. But the readBook of Judith (i. 5, 15, Ragau), but nowhere in ing of huépaι (II. III. 23. 58. 64.) is sufficiently the Hebrew Scriptures. According to Arrian it well supported. His two sons. They were was ten days' journey distant from Ecbatana; called Adrammelech and Sharezer. See Rawlinaccording to Ptolemy, two thousand furlongs. son's Ancient Mon., ii. 169. This author says Ver. 15. Ten talents of silver. The Jewish that the murder of Sennacherib "within fifty-five talent contained about ninety-five English pounds. [the reading of 23. 58. 64. al. Ald.] days" of his See Ex. xxxviii. 25, 26. Sennacherim. He return to Nineveh is an invention of our book. reigned, according to Rawlinson (Ancient Mon., He did not die till seventeen years after his iii. 43), from 23-24 years, and was then mur- misfortune (B. C. 681).” See 2 Kings xix. 36. dered. His ways were unstable. This is to Cod. II. has fifty days; the Vulgate, with the be understood either of his own conduct or of the Old Latin and Chaldaic, forty-five days; HF., fate which overtook him. His reign was during nineteen; Gutberlet, following Reusch, would una stormy period, and made uncertain through the derstand the time after the confiscation of the wars which he waged. Our book is wrong in goods of Tobit, and not after the monarch's rerepresenting him as the son of Shalmaneser. See turn from Judæa. But we cannot see how that Introduction, under "Historical Difficulties." helps the matter, as, from the text, it would seem Vers. 16-18. Some commentators call atten- that this took place at about the same time with tion to the high Christian standard of Tobit's the other event. Sacherdonus Esarhaddon. conduct, "Prope accedebat ad evangelicam perfec- Ver. 22. The position of the "keeper of the tionem" (see Grotius, Annot. ad loc.). But, un- signet was next to that of the king. See Esth. fortunately, it was only one part of the New iii 10. This part of the history is apparently an Testament morality that Tobit seems to have imitation of that of Joseph, Daniel, and Neherecognized. He was certainly ignorant of the miah, as it respects their elevation to high office virtue that lets not the right hand know what in a foreign state. - Εξάδελφος is a late word, the left hand does, and so falls, after all, into and not elsewhere found in the LXX., except in the condemnation of the Pharisee in the para- the present book. There is commonly used with ble. --I buried them privily. It was regarded this meaning the word aveviós. = 1 2 CHAPTER II. AND when I came 1 home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, wita my son Tobias, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven 2 weeks, there was a rich meal prepared for me. And I sat down to eat. And when I saw abundance of food," I said to my son, Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is mindful of the Lord; and lo, I 3 tarry for thee. And he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation has been 4 strangled, and cast out in the market-place. And 10 before I had tasted anything," I sprang up, and took him up into a room until after 13 the going down of the sun. 5, 6 And I returned, and washed myself, and ate my bread 14 in heaviness. And I called to mind the 15 prophecy of Amos, how 16 he said, Your feasts shall be turned 7 into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation. And " I wept; and after the Ver. 1.1A. V.: Now . . . was come 2 in. 3 Πεντηκοστῇ before ἑορτῇ is omitted in III. 248. Co. Ald. The article before the latter word, as in III. 248. Co. Ald., would make it in apposition with the former. dinner prepared me. With eyevýon it was hardly necessary to put the word "prepared " in italics, as in the A. V. A. V., in the which. 12 .... Vers. 2-7.-A. V.: meat. 17 4 A. V. good 7 But. 8 is. For ἐστραγγαλωμένος of the text. rec. III. 55. offer ἐστραγγαλημένος, as also II. as a correction; 44. 106. : éσrpayyadɩoμévos. 9 A. V.: is cast out. 10 Then (Junius, Tum). 11 of any meat. 18 omits after (Gr., ews où ědv, etc.). 14 Then (Jun., Deinde). . . . meat 15 Remem 12 start. bering that. 2 8 going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him. And1 my neighbors mocked me, and said, He is no longer afraid of being put to death for this matter; he has been even a fugitive, and yet lo, he burieth the dead again. 5 8 6 8 9 11 9 And the same night I returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my 10 courtyard, being unclean, and my face was uncovered; and I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall; and mine eyes being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into mine eyes, and white spots came in mine eyes; and I went to the physicians, and they helped me not; but Achiacharus nourished me, until he 10 11 went into Elymais. And my wife Anna wove wool in the women's rooms; 12 and she sent it to its owners and 12 they paid her the 18 wages, and gave her also 13 besides a kid. And when she returned home, it 14 began to cry; and 15 I said unto her, From whence is this kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return 16 it to the owners, 14 for it is not lawful to eat any thing that is stolen. But she replied," It was given as a gift more than the wages. And 19 I did not believe her, and 20 bade her reit to the owners; and I was indignant 22 at her. But she replied to 28 Where are thine alms and thy righteous deeds? Behold, all thy works 24 known. 18 turn 21 me, are Vers. 8-10.-1A. V.: But. 3 This man is not yet afraid to be. In 23. 44. 52. 64. 108. Co. Ald. ouros is inserted after poßeira (Jun., non amplius metuit iste interfici). 3 A. V., who fled away. The same night also. 5 polluted. e a whiteness (marg., white films). 7 A. V. but. 8 moreover. 9 did nourish. 10 1. Fritzsche has changed érоpełny, notwithstanding the authority of the MSS., including II., to èropeven, as "clearly required by the context." Junius has profectus esset, and remarks, in a foot-note: Sic restituimus ex conjectura sublata litera una. The Vulg., HM., and Chald. omit the clause. Vers. 11-13.11 A.V.: did take women's work to do (marg., was hired to spin in the women's rooms). For ἐν τοῖς yuvaikeiois, Ilgen would read epyois y. (see Com.).. 12 A. V. and when she had sent them home to the owners. 13 omits the. 14 it was in mine house (Gr.. Öte dè 3⁄4λde mрós μe) and. 15 omits and. 16 is it not stolen? render. Ver. 14.17 A. V.: replied upon me. 18 for. 19 Howbeit. 20 but. 21 render. 22 abashed. For nov@pier ("became red "), Ilgen would substitute pidevov ("served "), but without sufficient reason. 23 A. V.: upon. 24 thou and all thy works. The Greek is idoù yvwoτà távta μerà σoû; hence the italics (thy works) are not needed. The A. V. has in the margin, "Or, lo all things are known to thee," which rendering is admissible, but does not so well suit the context as the other. Junius, Ecce spectata sunt omnia apud te; Old Lat., Ecce quæ pateris omnibus nota sunt. CHAPTER II. Ver. 1. Feast of Pentecost. From this passage we learn that such a feast was at this period celebrated. The law prescribed (Lev. xxiii. 11, 15) that the time should be reckoned from "the morrow after the Sabbath" to the morrow after the completion of the seventh month, i. e., the fiftieth day The Jews in foreign lands, subsequent to the Captivity, usually devoted two days to the feast, although the Law required but one. -'Avéneσa. The use of this verb to indicate the reclining posture at table is evidence of a later date. In the New Testament it is not uncommon. See John xxi. 20, and Winer, p. 23. Cod. III. has substituted ἀνεπαυσάμην. Ver. 4. Into a room. It was not in his own honse, since it would have become thereby unclean, but in some adjoining building. See following verse. - Until after the sun had set. Cum jam transiisset dies festus. Grotius. 10. Ver. 6. Prophecy of Amos. See Am. viii. Ver. 9. He did not sleep at home, because he would have rendered the house thereby unclean. A person who came in contact with a dead body was rendered unclean in consequence for seven days. See Numb. xix. 11. But he must have previously touched the body when he bore it from the street into a room to wait for night. And yet he had not only returned to his house, but had eaten in it. Either Tobit or his historian must have forgotten himself at this point. has in the margin: Or, swallows." -- Ver. 11. Epideów means properly to work for wages. It has also a special significance, to work in wool. See Fritzsche, Römerbrief, i. p. 143 ff. Schleusner (Lex., ad roc.) translates it by lanam tracto. Dereser would supply the word ěpyois after yuvaikeiois. See Textual Notes. Ver. 13. On the use of un in interrogative clauses, see Winer, p. 511; Buttmann, pp. 248. 250, 255 ff. In this case Tobit seems inclined to Ver. 10. Erpovoia. Small birds of any kind believe that the kid had been stolen. It is, howmight be meant, but particularly sparrows. The ever, a sad hint, as it respects the character of Vulgate renders by hirundines, and is followed by his wife. Keyiμaîos (= kλomiuaîos). A late Coverdale's and the Bishops' Bible. The A. V. word, and, according to Fritzsche, here first found Cf. Sophocles' Lex., ad voc., who gives citations | have been expected from them if they had been from the Fathers, showing its use. properly given. They are not to be found.” Ver. 14. Was indignant. lit., became red." We are in distress." All thy works are "Excandescebam adversus illam, ad verbum: san- known. She means, apparently, that it is easy quineo rubore (præ ira) suffundebam contra illam." to see from the misfortunes into which he had Wahl's Clavis, ad voc - Where are thine alms ? fallen that they amounted to nothing. Cf. Job i.e., Where are the good results which mightii. 10. 1, 2 CHAPTER III. AND I being grieved wept, and in my sorrow prayed, saying, O Lord, thou art just. and all thy works and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou judgest 3 truly and justly for ever. Remember me, and look on me; punish 2 me not according to my sins and ignorances, and the sins of my fathers, which they 4 sinned be4 fore thee; for they obeyed not thy commandments. And thou deliveredst5 us 6 for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all 5 the nations among whom we are dispersed. And now thy many judgments are true in that thou dealest with me according to my sins and my fathers'; because we 6 have not kept thy commandments, neither have walked in truth before thee. And now deal with me as seemeth best unto thee. Command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved," and become earth; for it is profitable for me to die rather than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and have much sorrow. Command therefore that I may now be delivered out of this distress, and go into the everlasting place; turn not thy face away from me. 7 It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatana 10 a city of Media, Sarra 11 the 8 daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father's maids, because that she had been married to seven husbands, and Asmodeus the evil demon killed them 12 before they had lain with her. Art thou not clever,18 said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? Thou hast already had seven, and wast not named 14 9 after any of them. Wherefore dost thou beat us? 15 If they died,16 go 17 after 10 them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter. When she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she would have strangled herself. And she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do this, it will 19 be a re11 proach unto him, and I shall bring his old age with sorrow unto Hades." she prayed at 22 the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O Lord, my God, and blessed is thy holy and honorable name 28 for ever; let all thy works praise thee 12 for ever. And now, O Lord, I have directed mine eyes and my face toward 13 thee. Command to 25 take me away from the earth, that I may hear no more re14, 15 proach.26 Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with a man,27 and that I did not pollute 28 my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity; I am the only daughter of my father, and there is no son to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of one alive, for whom 31 I may keep my 80 29 20 And 21 Vers. 1-5.-1A. V.: Then I . . . . did weep. 2 For ekdikhons, which Fritzsche adopts from III. 58. 64. and many other MSS., the text. rec. (with II.) has èxôikỷs. 3 A. V. for (see Com.). 4 who have (Gr., & μaprov; but III. 55. 64. and some others with Co. Ald. have oi; Junius, qui). 5 wherefore (Codd. II. 44. 106. omit the connective; Jun., quemobrem) thou hast delivered. 6thy judgments are many and true, deal, etc. (so Junius). Fritzsche justly strikes out the connective before åλŋ@evaí, with II. III. 23. 44. Ald.; cf. Com. Vers. 6, 7. A. V.: Now therefore (a very common rendering of xaì vùv in the A. V.). marg., dismissed, or delivered. 10 Ecbatane. 11 Sara. 8 and command. Ver. 8.12 A. V.: whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed (Jun., occiderat). The form of this proper name in II. is everywhere Aouwdavs. 13 A. V. Dost thou not know. For où avveis, Ilgen, with Schleusner, thinks où σù els should be read. 14 A. V. had already seven husbands (Co. Ald.: éπrà avôpas). . . . neither wast thou named. Cod. II. and the Syr., as well as III. have the reading wváσons (“ been profited ") instead of wroμáoons of the text. rec. It i probably to be regarded, however, as a corrupt form of the latter, since the word does not otherwise appear in this form Vers. 9-13.15 A. V.: us for them. The addition is not in the text. rec., but is found in 23. 44. 52. 64. 71. Co. Ald Syr. and Junius. 18 A. V. be dead (died, à¤é@avav, i. e., a natural death). 17 go thy ways (only Bádige). 18 she thought to. 19 shall. 20 the grave (Gr., eis adov). 21 Then. 22 towand (Gr., mpòs Ty). See Com. thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honorable (εὐλογητὸν τὸ ὄνομα τῆς δόξης σου τὸ ἅγιον καὶ ἔντιμον, 63. 243 248. Co. Ald.). 24 set (Gr., 8édwкa). 25 and say (eimóv). We connect with the following as imperative (Command to). Junius has, Dicens ut liberes. 20 A. V.: out of the earth. . . . the reproach. 23 A. V.: Vers. 14, 15.-27 A. V.: with man. (Cod. II. from the first hand supplies kai before ȧvdpós, as do also 23 44. 52. 58. 106. 108. 249. Syr., which, however, would make her say quite too much.) 28 that I never polluted. 20 neither hath ne any child. 20 of his (Gr., simply, viós; Jun., filius ex eo). 31 to whom. self for a wife; my seven husbands are already dead; why should I live? And1 8 16 and entered into his house, and Sarra 10 the daughter of Raguel came down from 2 that I should die Ver. 15.1 A. V.: and why should I live? but, etc. CHAPTER III. Ver. 1. As we learn from ver. 17, this prayer | and, particularly, Kohut's work. This personage Ver. 2. Mercy, ἐλεημοσύναι. This word is Ver. 3. Μή με ἐκδικήσῃς ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις μου, obtained power over these seven unfortunates Ver. 5. The translation of the A. V., deal with - Ver. 7. The same day. The day on which mer. Ver. 8. Asmodeus (T). Cf. Job xxxi. 12. - .... See Ver. 11. At (or before, após) the window. Ver. 13. Command to. The mediation of Ver. 17. Scale away, λerlaai. Cf. Acts ix. 18, CHAPTER IV. 1 On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabaelus 2 in Rages of Media. And he said with himself, I have wished for death; where 3 fore do I not call for my son Tobias, that I may inform him 2 before I die? And having called him, he said, 8 6 10 My son, when I am dead, bury me; and neglect not thy mother, but honor her all the days of thy life, and do that which will please her, and grieve her not. 4 Remember, my son, that she experienced many dangers for thee, when thou wast 5 in her womb; and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not thy will be set to sin, and to transgress his commandments; do uprightly all thy life long, and go not in the 6 ways of unrighteousness. For if thou practice the truth thou shalt be prospered. 7 in all thy works." And to all them that live justly give alms of thy substance ; and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious; do not turn thy face from any poor man," and the face of God shall not be turned away from 8 thee. If thou hast 12 abundance, give alms accordingly; if thou have but a little, 9 be not afraid to give according to that little; for thou layest up a good treasure 10 for thyself against the day of necessity. Because that alms doth deliver from 11 death, and suffereth not to come 18 into darkness. For alms is a good offering 12 unto all that give it, in the sight of the Most High. Beware of every sort of 15 whoredom, my son, and above all 16 take a wife of the seed of thy fathers, take 17 not a strange woman as wife who 18 is not of thy father's tribe; for we are children of prophets. Noe, Abraam, Isaac, Jacob,19 our fathers from the beginning, remember, my son, that 20 they all married wives of their brethren, and were 13 blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land. And now, my son, love thy brethren, and turn not away with a proud heart from 23 thy brethren, the sons and daughters of thy people, in respect to taking thyself a wife of them; for in pride is destruction and much disorder, and in dissoluteness is degradation 14 and great want; for dissoluteness 26 is the mother of famine. Let not the wages 29 32 25 24 81 21 22 14 of any man, who hath wrought for thee,28 tarry with thee, but give him it out of hand; if thou serve God, he will also repay thee. Be circumspect, my son, in all 15 things thou doest, and be well bred 80 in all thy conduct. And do 1 that to no man which thou hatest. Drink not wine to make thee drunken; neither let drunkenness 16 go with thee on thy journey. Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked; all that thou hast in superfluity give as 33 alms; and 17 let not thine eye be envious, when thou givest alms. Pour out thy bread on the 18 burial of the just, and give not to the wicked. Seek counsel from every wise man 19 and despise him not in any counsel that is profitable. And bless the Lord thy God on every occasion, and seek from him that thy ways may become straight,& and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper, for no nation hath 39 counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth whom he will, as he will. Vers. 1-4.1 A. V.: In that. called. 35 86 Gabael despise not. . . . shall. 5 saw. and said. 2 signify to him of the money. 3 when he had This verb opáw, not only means to see, but also to experience. Vers. 5-7. Cod. II. omits kai before μǹ deλnons. The rendering of the A. V. is pretty strong; but cf. the Greek at 1 Tim. v. 11, yaμeiv dédovơiv, and Buttmann, pp. 375, 376 7 A. V. or. 8 follow not, etc. (Gr., un mopevons rais ὁδοῖς). deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee (cf. the Greek). 10 neither. Cod. II. supplies καί before μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς. 11 A. V. any poor. 13 For Vers. 8-12.: 12 For værápɣet, instead of vráрxo, may be cited with Fritzsche not only III. 44. 74., but also II. da eiơeλbeîv, II. has éáσei éλbeîv (Old Lat., non patitur ire in tenebras). 14 A. V.: gift (see Com.). The Codd. III. 23. 55. 74. 76. 236. omit yáp at the beginning. 15 A. V. all. 16 chiefly. 17 and take (the Codd. III. 58. 64. with Co. Ald. have the connective). 18 woman to wife, which. 19 the children of the prophets,.. Abraham Jacob: 20 remember .... even that. 21 own kindred. Vers. 13, 14.22 A. V.: Now, therefore. 23 despise not in thy heart. 24 in not taking (as 106.). 25 trouble 50 A. V. : be wise (Gr., ἴσθι πεπαιδευμένος). 31 conversation (cf. Eph. v. 15). Do. Vers. 15-20.32 A. V.: in. 14 but give nothing. καιρῷ). 37 desire of. 83 and according to thine abundance give (Gr., râv d ¿àv #epiσσevon σoi moiel, etc.). 35 Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not. 38 directed. 39 every nation hath not. 36 Bless.... alway (Gr., èv ĦaνTì |