Tobit 11
Commentary from 3 fathers
And went on his way till they drew near unto Nineve. Then Raphael said to Tobias, Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst leave thy father:
ΚΑΙ ἐπορεύετο μέχρις οὗ ἐγγίσαι αὐτοὺς εἰς Νινευῆ. καὶ εἶπε Ῥαφαὴλ πρὸς Τωβίαν· οὐ γινώσκεις, ἀδελφέ, πῶς ἀφῆκας τὸν πατέρα σου;
И҆ речѐ рафаи́лъ ко тѡві́и: не вѣ́си ли, бра́те, ка́кѡ ѡ҆ста́вилъ є҆сѝ ѻ҆тца̀ твоего̀;
Let us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.
προδράμωμεν ἔμπροσθεν τῆς γυναικός σου καὶ ἑτοιμάσωμεν τὴν οἰκίαν·
предтеце́мъ пред̾ жено́ю твое́ю и҆ ᲂу҆гото́ваимъ до́мъ:
Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son.
καὶ ῎Αννα ἐκάθητο περιβλεπομένη εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν τὸν παῖδα αὐτῆς·
А҆́нна же сѣдѧ́ше ѡ҆бзира́ющи на пꙋтѝ сы́на своего̀.
As they approached the house, the dog that had been with them on the journey ran ahead and, as if acting as a messenger, joyfully wagged his tail. The figure of this dog, which is a traveler and a companion of the angel, is not to be despised. The dog represents the teachers of the Church, who, as we taught above, often fight against heretics, driving away the grievous wolves from the fold of the Chief Shepherd. To them, it is fitting that dogs naturally repay kindness with gratitude and keep vigilant watch for the safety of their masters. Therefore, the dog runs ahead because he first announces salvation to the house, and then the Lord, the illuminator of the world's hearts, follows. It beautifully says "as if acting as a messenger" because indeed every faithful teacher is a messenger of the truth; it beautifully says "wagging his tail joyfully," for the tail, which is the end of the body, signifies the end of good work, that is, perfection, or certainly the reward which is given without end. Thus, the dog joyfully wagged his tail when he revisited the home of his masters, from whom he had been away for a long time. The teachers rejoice in the fulfillment of their work when they understand that Judea will be gathered by the Lord through their ministry. They rejoice in the reception of the eternal life reward and in this same reward, which is common to all the elect, they gladden the hearts of those to whom they preach, while they promise them the immediate coming of Christ's grace.
Commentary on Tobit
And when she espied him coming, she said to his father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with him.
καὶ προσενόησεν αὐτὸν ἐρχόμενον καὶ εἶπε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ· ἰδοὺ ὁ υἱός μου ἔρχεται καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ πορευθεὶς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ᲂу҆смотрѝ є҆го̀ грѧдꙋ́ща и҆ речѐ ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀: сѐ, сы́нъ мо́й грѧде́тъ и҆ человѣ́къ поше́дый съ ни́мъ.
Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes.
καὶ Ῥαφαὴλ εἶπεν· ἐπίσταμαι ἐγὼ ὅτι ἀνοίξει τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὁ πατήρ σου.
А҆ рафаи́лъ речѐ: вѣ́мъ а҆́зъ, тѡві́е, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѿве́рзетъ ѻ҆́чи ѻ҆те́цъ тво́й:
Therefore anoint thou his eyes with the gall, and being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness shall fall away, and he shall see thee.
σὺ ἔγχρισον τὴν χολὴν εἰς τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ δηχθεὶς διατρίψει καὶ ἀποβαλεῖται τὰ λευκώματα καὶ ὄψεταί σε.
ты̀ ᲂу҆́бѡ пома́жи же́лчїю на ѻ҆чесѣ́хъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆грызе́нъ ѡ҆тре́тъ, и҆ ѿве́рзетъ бѣ́льма, и҆ ᲂу҆́зритъ тѧ̀.
Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said unto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my son, from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both.
καὶ προσδραμοῦσα ῎Αννα ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· εἶδόν σε, παιδίον, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀποθανοῦμαι καὶ ἔκλαυσαν ἀμφότεροι.
И҆ прите́кши а҆́нна нападѐ на вы́ю сы́на своегѡ̀ и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: ви́дѣхъ тѧ̀, ча́до, ѿнн҃ѣ да ᲂу҆мрꙋ̀. И҆ пла́кастасѧ ѻ҆́ба.
Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him,
καὶ Τωβὶτ ἐξήρχετο πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ προσέκοπτεν, ὁ δὲ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ προσέδραμεν αὐτῷ
Тѡві́тъ же и҆схожда́ше ко две́ремъ и҆ преткнꙋ́сѧ. Сы́нъ же є҆гѡ̀ притечѐ къ немꙋ̀
And took hold of his father: and he strake of the gall on his fathers’ eyes, saying, Be of good hope, my father.
καὶ ἐπελάβετο τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ προσέπασε τὴν χολὴν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ λέγων· θάρσει, πάτερ.
и҆ под̾ѧ̀ ѻ҆тца̀ своего̀ и҆ посы́па же́лчь на ѻ҆чеса̀ ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀, глаго́лѧ: дерза́й, ѻ҆́тче.
Therefore, when the dog announced that Tobias had come, his blind father, rising, began to run, stumbling with his feet. Hearing the word of salvation from the teachers, the Hebrew people rise from the long slumber of their infidelity and run with love to the Lord; although stumbling in their works, until the fullness of faith and good work, they receive the light, being regenerated and instructed in Christ.
Commentary on Tobit
And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them;
ὡς δὲ συνεδήχθησαν, διέτριψε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλεπίσθη ἀπὸ τῶν κάνθων τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ τὰ λευκώματα.
Є҆гда́ же ѡ҆грызє́на бы́ша, ѡ҆трѐ ѻ҆́чи своѝ,
Michael indeed means "Who is like God"; Gabriel, "the strength of God"; and Raphael is called "the medicine of God." Raphael also, as we said, is interpreted as the medicine of God, because when he touched the eyes of Tobias as if through the office of healing, he wiped away the darkness of his blindness. He therefore who is sent to heal was fittingly called the medicine of God.
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 34
And taking the hand of the boy, he ran to meet his son. The blind man takes the hand of the boy so that he may run with unimpeded steps to the Lord; even if he himself does not fully understand the path of faith, he still strives to give his assent to the one who knows the light of truth well, so that he may reach the Lord.
Commentary on Tobit
Then Tobias, taking some of the fish's gall, anointed his father's eyes. And the Lord reveals more openly to believers how great is the malice of the ancient serpent, who once eagerly sought to devour Him in His passion; but by this, he himself was rather killed, losing his members, that is, those he previously held.
Commentary on Tobit
And the whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and when he saw his son, he fell upon his neck.
καὶ ἰδὼν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ
и҆ ѿро́шасѧ ѿ ᲂу҆́глѡвъ ѻ҆че́съ є҆гѡ̀ бѣ́льма, и҆ ви́дѣвъ сы́на своего̀, нападѐ на вы́ю є҆гѡ̀
And he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed are all thine holy angels:
καὶ ἔκλαυσε καὶ εἶπεν· εὐλογητὸς εἶ, ὁ Θεός, καὶ εὐλογητὸν τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ εὐλογημένοι πάντες οἱ ἅγιοί σου ἄγγελοι· ὅτι ἐμαστίγωσας καὶ ἠλέησάς με, ἰδοὺ βλέπω Τωβίαν τὸν υἱόν μου.
и҆ пла́касѧ и҆ речѐ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ є҆сѝ, бж҃е, и҆ блгⷭ҇ве́но и҆́мѧ твоѐ во вѣ́ки, и҆ блгⷭ҇ве́ни всѝ ст҃і́и твоѝ а҆́гг҃ли,
And receiving him, he kissed him with his wife, weeping for joy. Judaea, in the end, joyfully receiving the union with Christ, joined weeping to its joy: rejoicing because it believes; grieving because it came to the Lord so late.
Commentary on Tobit
A sort of membrane, like an egg, began to come out of Tobias' eyes after they were anointed with the fish's gall, and he regained his sight. And the people of the Jews, after they recognize the bitter malice of the most wicked enemy, will regain the lost light. The membrane, which had covered his eyes, signifies the folly of self-pleasing. For they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Rom. X). And as it says again: Seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God (Ibid.). For the black pupil sees, the white one is darkened. And those who seem wise to themselves, saying, "Are we also blind?" (John IX), the truth is not in them. But those who are conscious of their own frailty and ignorance and know how to say, "My God, enlighten my darkness" (Psalm XVII), these will enjoy the light of life in the Lord. Moreover, the membrane was like an egg, for eggs signify hope; because it is not yet alive, not yet animated, but is separated from the bird that laid it, waiting to live, proceed, run, and fly. And the Apostle says: "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Rom. VIII). Hence, in the evangelical parable, under the name of bread, fish, and egg, the three highest virtues, faith, hope, and charity are expressed. Therefore, the people of the Jews still have a veil before the face of their heart, so that they do not understand the grace of Christ. They have a cataract, because they seem to themselves white and just above all. But they have this cataract like the membrane of an egg; because they endure the blindness of the mind under the most foolish and vain hope of Christ being born in the flesh and delivering them and giving them a great kingdom throughout the world. But to any of them from whom the mist of error is removed, they will recognize that Christ has already come and redeemed the world with His blood. It aptly fits what follows:
Commentary on Tobit
For thou hast scourged, and hast taken pity on me: for, behold, I see my son Tobias. And his son went in rejoicing, and told his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ χαίρων καὶ ἀπήγγειλε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τὰ γενόμενα αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ Μηδίᾳ.
ꙗ҆́кѡ наказа́лъ є҆сѝ и҆ поми́ловалъ є҆сѝ мѧ̀: сѐ, ви́ждꙋ тѡві́ю сы́на моего̀. И҆ вни́де сы́нъ є҆гѡ̀ ра́дꙋѧсѧ, и҆ возвѣстѝ ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ своемꙋ̀ вели̑чїѧ бы̑вшаѧ є҆мꙋ̀ въ миді́и.
It is necessary to observe the means of expression the Evangelist used as to whether he says to us that the eyes of the blind person were opened or that he saw. He expresses that he opened his eyes with the words, “It was the sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.” But it also says that he saw with the words, “He went and returned seeing.” We will be able to find the difference between the expressions from Tobit. When white patches had formed over his eyes, it is not written that his eyes were later opened but that he saw. Of the rest, you will be able to observe one or the other aspect in the course of the entire episode related concerning the blind person, where one person asserts one thing and another that, with quite a bit of dissent from each other.
Commentary on the Gospel of John, Fragment 66
14–15Because, having received sight, Tobias glorified God with his wife, and all his acquaintances, saying, "I bless you, Lord God of Israel, because you have chastised me, and you have saved me," etc.
Commentary on Tobit
Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of Nineve, rejoicing and praising God: and they which saw him go marvelled, because he had received his sight.
καὶ ἐξῆλθε Τωβὶτ εἰς συνάντησιν τῇ νύμφῃ αὐτοῦ χαίρων καὶ εὐλογῶν τὸν Θεὸν πρὸς τῇ πύλῃ Νινευῆ· καὶ ἐθαύμαζον οἱ θεωροῦντες αὐτὸν πορευόμενον, ὅτι ἔβλεψε.
И҆ и҆зы́де тѡві́тъ во срѣ́тенїе невѣ́стки своеѧ̀ ра́дꙋѧсѧ и҆ благословѧ̀ бг҃а, ко вратѡ́мъ нїнеѵі́и. И҆ чꙋдѧ́хꙋсѧ ви́дѧщїи є҆го̀ грѧдꙋ́ща, ꙗ҆́кѡ прозрѣ̀.
But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed her, saying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought thee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among all his brethren which were at Nineve.
καὶ Τωβὶτ ἐξωμολογεῖτο ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἠλέησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεός· καὶ ὡς ἤγγισε Τωβὶτ Σάρρᾳ τῇ νύμφῃ αὐτοῦ, κατευλόγησεν αὐτὴν λέγων· ἔλθοις ὑγιαίνουσα, θύγατερ· εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, ὃς ἤγαγέ σε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου καὶ ἡ μήτηρ σου. καὶ ἐγένετο χαρὰ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν Νινευῆ ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ.
И҆ тѡві́тъ и҆сповѣ́дашесѧ пред̾ ни́ми, ꙗ҆́кѡ поми́лова є҆го̀ бг҃ъ. И҆ є҆гда̀ прибли́жисѧ тѡві́тъ къ са́ррѣ невѣ́стцѣ свое́й, благословѝ ю҆̀, глаго́лѧ: прїидѝ здра́ва, дщѝ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ бг҃ъ, и҆́же приведѐ тѧ̀ къ на́мъ, и҆ ѻ҆те́цъ тво́й и҆ ма́ти твоѧ̀. И҆ бы́сть ра́дость всѣ̑мъ сꙋ́щымъ въ нїнеѵі́и бра́тїѧмъ є҆гѡ̀.
The seven days signify the light of spiritual grace, which is taken as sevenfold. Therefore, after seven days, Tobias, having been illuminated, his son's wife enters, because after Judaea has been illuminated through faith, after receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Church will enter it, so that there may be one fold and one shepherd, and one house of Christ founded on one cornerstone.
Commentary on Tobit
The livestock and camels also entered, and the wife's considerable wealth. Many faithful persons and many virtues of the Church will then be gathered among the Jewish people.
Commentary on Tobit
But also the money that he had received from Gabael. The knowledge of the Scriptures, which they once lent to the Gentiles, will then be returned to them.
Commentary on Tobit
And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother’s son, came:
καὶ παρεγένετο ᾿Αχιάχαρος καὶ Νασβὰς ὁ ἐξάδελφος αὐτοῦ,
И҆ прїи́де а҆хїа́харъ, и҆ насва́съ сы́нъ бра́та є҆гѡ̀,
And Tobias’ wedding was kept seven days with great joy.
καὶ ἤχθη ὁ γάμος Τωβία μετ᾿ εὐφροσύνης ἡμέρας ἑπτά.
и҆ бы́сть бра́къ тѡві́и съ весе́лїемъ дні́й се́дмь.
Tobias' relatives came, congratulating him on all the good things the Lord had done for him, and they feasted with him for seven days. This is what Moses said in the song: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people" (Rom. XV). They feast together for seven days; because they rejoice in spiritual gifts and virtues.
Commentary on Tobit
And take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.
λαβὲ δὲ παρὰ χεῖρα τὴν χολὴν τοῦ ἰχθῦος. καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ συνῆλθεν ὁ κύων ὄπισθεν αὐτῶν.
возми́ же въ рꙋ́кꙋ же́лчь ры́бїю. И҆ поидо́ста, и҆ кꙋ́пнѡ и҆́де пе́съ в̾слѣ́дъ и҆́хъ.