Tobit

Tobit. The Book of Tobit is a deuterocanonical work included in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox biblical canons but considered apocryphal by Protestants and within Rabbinic Judaism. It is a narrative tale of piety, family duty, and divine providence set during the Assyrian captivity of the northern tribes of Israel. The story follows the parallel trials of the righteous Tobit in Nineveh and the afflicted Sarah in Ecbatana, whose fates are intertwined through the angel Raphael and Tobit's son, Tobias.

Summary

The narrative begins with Tobit, a devout Israelite from the tribe of Naphtali living in exile in Nineveh under the Assyrian Empire. Despite his faithfulness to the Law of Moses, he is blinded after bird droppings fall into his eyes. Simultaneously, in Median Ecbatana, a woman named Sarah is tormented by the demon Asmodeus, who has killed each of her seven husbands on their wedding nights. Both pray for death. God sends the archangel Raphael, disguised as a human named Azariah, to aid them. Tobit sends his son Tobias to Rages to retrieve a sum of money; Raphael accompanies him as a guide. On the journey, at the Tigris River, Tobias catches a fish, and Raphael instructs him to preserve its heart, liver, and gall. In Ecbatana, Tobias marries Sarah; using the fish's burnt heart and liver, he drives Asmodeus away. The couple returns to Nineveh, where the fish's gall cures Tobit's blindness. Raphael then reveals his true identity before departing. The book concludes with Tobit's song of praise, his ethical exhortations to Tobias, and a prophecy about the future destruction of Nineveh and the restoration of Jerusalem.

Composition and date

Scholars debate the precise origins of the text, but it is universally placed within the broader context of Second Temple Jewish literature. Linguistic and theological evidence suggests it was likely composed between 225 and 175 BCE, possibly in the Diaspora communities of the Eastern Mediterranean. The oldest surviving versions are in Greek, found in the Septuagint and the Codex Sinaiticus, but fragments in Aramaic and Hebrew discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran (in Cave 4) indicate a Semitic original, likely Aramaic. The setting during the Assyrian captivity serves as a historical backdrop for exploring themes of faithfulness in exile, rather than a record of events from that earlier period.

Content and structure

The book is structured as a didactic narrative, blending folklore motifs with Jewish legal and ethical teachings. It opens with a first-person autobiographical account by Tobit before shifting to a third-person narrative. Key structural elements include the parallel prayers of the two afflicted protagonists, the journey narrative (a type-scene common in ancient literature), the miraculous healing, and the concluding wisdom discourse. The plot is carefully constructed around the hidden guidance of Raphael, whose name means "God heals." Significant space is devoted to detailed descriptions of Mosaic observances, tithing, family endogamy, and burial practices, which anchor the story's miraculous events in a framework of pious, everyday obedience.

Themes and interpretation

Central themes include the efficacy of prayer, the importance of almsgiving as a righteous deed, and the mysterious workings of divine providence, often mediated through angels. The story emphasizes family loyalty, with Tobias honoring his father and marrying a relative within the tribe. The demon Asmodeus represents the threat of chaos and misfortune, overcome through piety and revealed knowledge. The text is also noted for its developed angelology, presenting Raphael as one of the seven holy angels who stand before the glory of the Lord. Interpretations vary, with some viewing it as a wisdom novel advocating for fidelity to the Torah in a foreign land, while others see it as a theological exploration of suffering and God's hidden presence.

Manuscripts and textual history

The textual tradition is complex. The primary Greek version exists in two major recensions: the longer version found in the Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus, and a shorter version in the Codex Alexandrinus. The Septuagint traditionally contains the longer text. The discovery of Aramaic and Hebrew fragments among the Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed the book's popularity in Second Temple Judaism and its Semitic origins. Later translations include the Old Latin and the Vulgate, where Jerome reportedly used an Aramaic manuscript for his Latin translation. The book is also present in the Peshitta, the Syriac version of the Bible.

Influence and canonicity

The book has been influential in shaping Christian and Jewish ideas about angels, intercessory prayer, and marital sanctity. Its depiction of Raphael influenced artistic representations and patronage in Christianity. The Council of Rome (382 CE) and later the Council of Trent (1546) affirmed its canonicity for the Catholic Church. It is also canonical in the Eastern Orthodox Church, as defined by the Synod of Jerusalem (1672). However, Martin Luther and other Reformers placed it in the Apocrypha, following Jerome's distinction between canonical and "ecclesiastical" books. It is not part of the Hebrew Bible or most Protestant canons. Category:Deuterocanonical books Category:Second Temple period literature