Tobit 2
Commentary from 5 fathers
And when I saw abundance of meat, 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 tarry for thee.
καὶ ἐθεασάμην ὄψα πολλὰ καὶ εἶπα τῷ υἱῷ μου· βάδισον καὶ ἄγαγε ὃν ἂν εὕρῃς τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν ἐνδεῆ, ὃς μέμνηται τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ ἰδοὺ μένω σε.
И҆ ᲂу҆зрѣ́хъ снѣ̑ди мнѡ́ги и҆ рѣ́хъ сы́нꙋ моемꙋ̀: и҆дѝ и҆ приведѝ, є҆го́же а҆́ще ѡ҆брѧ́щеши ѿ бра́тїи на́шеѧ ни́щаго, и҆́же по́мнитъ гдⷭ҇а, и҆ сѐ, ѡ҆жида́ю тебѐ.
But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.
καὶ ἐλθὼν εἶπε· πάτερ, εἷς ἐκ τοῦ γένους ἡμῶν ἐστραγγαλωμένος ἔρριπται ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ.
И҆ прише́дъ речѐ: ѻ҆́тче, є҆ди́нъ ѿ ро́да на́шегѡ ᲂу҆давле́нъ пове́рженъ є҆́сть на то́ржищи.
Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun.
κἀγὼ πρὶν ἢ γεύσασθαί με, ἀναπηδήσας ἀνειλόμην αὐτὸν εἴς τι οἴκημα, ἕως οὗ ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος.
И҆ а҆́зъ, пре́жде не́же вкꙋси́ти мѝ, взѧ́хъ є҆го̀ въ нѣ́кїй до́мъ, доне́лѣже за́йде со́лнце:
We understand how devoted he was who, as he himself maintained, left his dead father so as to lay hold of the Lord of life. For he says, “First permit me to go and bury my father.” The one whom he had left behind as dead he begs that he might return and bury. Sorrow did not hold him nor death detain him, because he was hastening to life. He had not yet closed the eyes of the dead man, not yet buried the stiff limbs, but as soon as he learned that the Lord had come he forgot the feeling of paternal piety, believing that there was a greater piety in loving Christ more than one’s parents. Perhaps he had read the prophetic passage that says, “Forget your people and your father’s house.” So he forgot his father and remembered his Savior. Perhaps he had also heard the Lord’s Gospel words: “The one who loves his father or mother more is not worthy of me.” Thus, as Tobit is justified because he abandons his meal for the sake of a burial, this man is approved because he abandons the burial of his father for the sake of Christ. For the one is not afraid to pass over his meal because of some earthly work intervenes, while the other fears lest some delay cause him to omit the eating of heavenly bread. Thus, although in consideration of Christ we owe burial to everyone, this man forsook his father’s burial out of love for Christ.
Sermons 41:2
Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,
καὶ ἐπιστρέψας ἐλουσάμην καὶ ἤσθιον τὸν ἄρτον μου ἐν λύπῃ·
и҆ возврати́всѧ ᲂу҆мы́хсѧ и҆ ꙗ҆до́хъ хлѣ́бъ мо́й въ ско́рби,
Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.
καὶ ἐμνήσθην τῆς προφητείας ᾿Αμώς, καθὼς εἶπε· στραφήσονται αἱ ἑορταὶ ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ εὐφροσύναι ὑμῶν εἰς θρῆνον,
и҆ помѧнꙋ́хъ прⷪ҇ро́чество а҆мѡ́са, ꙗ҆́коже речѐ: ѡ҆братѧ́тсѧ дні́е ва́ши въ пла́чь, и҆ всѧ̑ весє́лїѧ ва̑ша въ сѣ́тованїе:
Once the people fell down in the desert and died. Aaron their chief priest came and “stood in the midst of those who died and of those who lived,” so that the devastation of death might not advance even further among the rest. And then came the true high priest, my Lord, and he came into the midst between those dying and the living. That is, he came between those Jews who accepted his presence and those who not only did not accept but also killed themselves more completely than him, saying, “The blood of that one be on us and on our children!” So also “all the righteous blood that has been poured forth on the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah whom they killed between the sanctuary and the altar, will be required from that generation” that said, “His blood on us and on our children.” Therefore, these are a part of the dead people because they do not properly perform either the feast of unleavened bread or the feast days. But “their feast days have been turned into sorrow and their songs into lamentations,” they who, even if they wished, could not celebrate the feast days in that place that the Lord God chose. And indeed we ourselves did not say to them, “You will have no part in this altar or in the inheritance of the Lord,” but they themselves of their own accord refute the true altar and the heavenly high priest and have been brought to such a point of unhappiness that they both lost the image and did not accept the truth. Therefore it is said to them, “Behold, your house is left to you deserted.” For the grace of the Holy Spirit has been transferred to the nations; the celebrations have been transferred to us because the high priest has passed over to us, not the imagined but the true high priest, chosen “according to the order of Melchizedek.” It is necessary that he offer for us true sacrifices, that is, spiritual, where “the temple of God is built from living stones,” which is “the church of the living God” and where true Israel exists.
Homilies on Joshua 26:3
Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him.
καὶ ἔκλαυσα. καὶ ὅτε ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, ᾠχόμην καὶ ὀρύξας ἔθαψα αὐτόν.
и҆ пла́кахсѧ: и҆ є҆гда̀ за́йде со́лнце, поидо́хъ и҆ и҆скопа́въ погребо́хъ є҆го̀.
But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraid to be put to death for this matter: who fled away; and yet, lo, he burieth the dead again.
καὶ οἱ πλησίον ἐπεγέλων λέγοντες· οὐκ ἔτι φοβεῖται φονευθῆναι περὶ τοῦ πράγματος τούτου, καὶ ἀπέδρα, καὶ ἰδοὺ πάλιν θάπτει τοὺς νεκρούς.
Бли́жнїи же посмѣва́хꙋсѧ, глаго́люще: є҆щѐ не бои́тсѧ ᲂу҆бїе́нъ бы́ти за дѣ́ло сїѐ: и҆ бѣжа̀, и҆ сѐ, па́ки погреба́етъ мє́ртвыѧ.
8–14Tobias' relatives mocked him, and his wife reproached him, as if he had served God in vain. Rebuking and instructing them, he turned to God in prayer. In that people, there were some who, with foolish rashness, insulted the miseries of the people, which now differed greatly from the former happiness of the holy fathers, who once served God sublimely among them. The same people diligently cared to correct them through their teachers and chosen ones and turned themselves to implore God's mercy for the attainment of eternal life. It should not be seen as inappropriate that the same Tobias, both blind and preaching the word of God, is said to signify both the reprobate and the elect. For even the patriarch Jacob, wrestling with the angel, was made both lame and blessed; signifying, in his lameness, the unfaithful of his people, and in his blessing, the faithful.
Commentary on Tobit
The same night also I returned from the burial, and slept by the wall of my courtyard, being polluted and my face was uncovered:
καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ νυκτὶ ἀνέλυσα θάψας καὶ ἐκοιμήθην μεμιαμμένος παρὰ τὸν τοῖχον τῆς αὐλῆς, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀκάλυπτον ἦν.
И҆ въ тꙋ̀ но́щь, є҆гда̀ погребо́хъ, возврати́хсѧ и҆ лего́хъ ѡ҆скверне́нъ при стѣнѣ̀ двора̀, и҆ лицѐ моѐ ѿкрове́но бѣ̀:
9–10Tired from burial, Tobias came into his house, . . . . . and became blind. Do not be surprised, reader, that sometimes good deeds symbolically signify evil, and sometimes evil deeds signify good things. If this were not allowed, God would never be written with black ink but always with bright gold, because He is light. But even if you write the name of the devil on a white stone, it still signifies deep darkness. Therefore, blind Tobias signifies what the Apostle says, "Blindness has happened in part to Israel" (Rom. XI). He was tired from burial and became blind, because he who persists tirelessly in good works is never deprived of the light of faith. Spiritually, he lies and sleeps tired, who neglects to watch and stand in faith, to act manfully, to be strengthened. To him well applies the apostolic word: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (Eph. V). Swallows, because of their light flight, represent pride and lightness of heart, whose impurity quickly blinds those over whom they rule. For it is as if one sleeps under the nest of swallows, who incautiously subjects his mind to lightness, wantonness, and pride. This blindness, however, prevailed over the people of Israel, especially with the imminent coming of the Lord in the flesh, when they were oppressed by the yoke of Roman servitude and violated the commandments of the divine law by living wickedly.
Commentary on Tobit
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 a whiteness came in mine eyes: and I went to the physicians, but they helped me not: moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into Elymais.
καὶ οὐκ ᾔδειν ὅτι στρουθία ἐν τῷ τοίχῳ ἐστί, καὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου ἀνεῳγότων, ἀφώδευσαν τὰ στρουθία θερμὸν εἰς τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καὶ ἐγενήθη λευκώματα ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου. καὶ ἐπορεύθην πρὸς ἰατρούς, καὶ οὐκ ὠφέλησάν με· ᾿Αχιάχαρος δὲ ἔτρεφέ με, ἕως οὗ ἐπορεύθην εἰς τὴν ᾿Ελυμαΐδα.
не ви́дѣхъ же, ꙗ҆́кѡ вра̑бїѧ на стѣнѣ̀ сꙋ́ть, и҆ ѻ҆чесє́мъ мои̑мъ ѿвє́рстымъ сꙋ́щымъ, и҆спꙋсти́ша вра̑бїѧ те́плое на ѻ҆чеса̀ моѧ̑, и҆ бы́ша бѣ́льма на ѻ҆чесѣ́хъ мои́хъ: и҆ и҆до́хъ ко врачє́мъ и҆ не по́льзоваша мѧ̀: а҆хїа́харъ же пита́ше мѧ̀, до́ндеже ѿидо́хъ во є҆лѷмаі́дꙋ.
And my wife Anna did take women’s works to do.
καὶ ἡ γυνή μου ῎Αννα ἠριθεύετο ἐν τοῖς γυναικείοις·
А҆ жена̀ моѧ̀ а҆́нна во́лнꙋ прѧдѧ́ше въ домѣ́хъ же́нскихъ
And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave her also besides a kid goat.
καὶ ἀπέστελλε τοῖς κυρίοις, καὶ ἀπέδωκαν αὐτῇ καὶ αὐτοὶ τὸν μισθὸν προσδόντες καὶ ἔριφον.
и҆ посыла́ше госпо́дїємъ: даѧ́хꙋ же є҆́й и҆ ѻ҆нѝ мздꙋ̀, прида́вше и҆ козлѧ̀.
The righteous are tested in order to bring about their improvement. This is why we must be strong in the face of temptations, knowing they do not occur in order to humiliate us but in order to make us grow if we face them with a serene mind for the sake of Christ.
Questions from Both Testaments 99
And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her, From whence is this kid goat? is it not stolen? render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat any thing that is stolen.
ὅτε δὲ ἦλθε πρός με, ἤρξατο κράζειν· καὶ εἶπα αὐτῇ· πόθεν τὸ ἐρίφιον; μὴ κλεψιμαῖόν ἐστιν; ἀπόδος αὐτὸ τοῖς κυρίοις· οὐ γὰρ θεμιτόν ἐστι φαγεῖν κλεψιμαῖον.
Є҆гда́ же прїи́де ко мнѣ̀, нача̀ вопи́ти: и҆ рѣ́хъ є҆́й: ѿкꙋ́дꙋ козлѧ̀; не ᲂу҆кра́дено ли є҆́сть; ѿда́ждь є҆̀ госпо́дїємъ: не бо̀ лѣ́по є҆́сть ꙗ҆́сти кра́деное.
But she replied upon me, It was given for a gift more than the wages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners: and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, Where are thine alms and thy righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are known.
ἡ δὲ εἶπε· δῶρον δέδοταί μοι ἐπὶ τῷ μισθῷ. καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευον αὐτῇ καὶ ἔλεγον ἀποδιδόναι αὐτὸ τοῖς κυρίοις καί ἠρυθρίων πρὸς αὐτήν· ἡ δὲ ἀποκριθεῖσα εἶπέ μοι· ποῦ εἰσιν αἱ ἐλεημοσύναι σου καὶ αἱ δικαιοσύναι σου; ἰδοὺ γνωστὰ πάντα μετὰ σοῦ.
Ѻ҆на́ же речѐ: да́ръ даде́сѧ мѝ над̾ мздꙋ̀. И҆ не вѣ́ровахъ є҆́й и҆ глаго́лахъ ѿда́ти є҆̀ госпо́дїємъ, и҆ стыдѧ́хсѧ пред̾ не́ю. Ѻ҆на́ же ѿвѣща́вши речѐ мѝ: гдѣ̀ сꙋ́ть ми́лѡстыни твоѧ̑ и҆ пра̑вды твоѧ̑; сѐ, вѣ́дѡма всѧ̑ съ тобо́ю.
Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the which I sat down to eat.
ΟΤΕ δὲ κατῆλθον εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου καὶ ἀπεδόθη μοι ῎Αννα ἡ γυνή μου, καὶ Τωβίας ὁ υἱός μου, ἐν τῇ πεντηκοστῇ ἑορτῇ, ἥ ἐστιν ἁγία ἑπτὰ ἑβδομάδων, ἐγενήθη ἄριστον καλόν μοι, καὶ ἀνέπεσα τοῦ φαγεῖν.
Є҆гда́ же прїидо́хъ въ до́мъ мо́й, и҆ ѿдана̀ бы́сть мнѣ̀ а҆́нна жена̀ моѧ̀ и҆ тѡві́а сы́нъ мо́й, въ пра́здникъ пѧтьдесѧ́тницы, и҆̀же є҆́сть ст҃ъ се́дмь седми́цъ, бы́сть ѡ҆бѣ́дъ до́бръ мнѣ̀, и҆ возлего́хъ, є҆́же ꙗ҆́сти.