Tobit 5
Commentary from 2 fathers
Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will do all things which thou hast commanded me:
ΚΑΙ ἀποκριθεὶς Τωβίας εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πάτερ, ποιήσω πάντα, ὅσα ἐντέταλσαί μοι·
И҆ ѿвѣща́въ тѡві́а, речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: ѻ҆́тче, сотворю̀ всѧ̑, є҆ли̑ка заповѣ́далъ є҆сѝ мѝ:
But how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not?
ἀλλὰ πῶς δυνήσομαι λαβεῖν τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ οὐ γινώσκω αὐτόν;
но ка́кѡ возмогꙋ̀ взѧ́ти сребро̀, а҆ не зна́ю є҆гѡ̀;
Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek thee a man which may go with thee, whiles I yet live, and I will give him wages: and go and receive the money.
καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ τὸ χειρόγραφον καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ζήτησον σεαυτῷ ἄνθρωπον, ὃς συμπορεύσεταί σοι, καὶ δώσω αὐτῷ μισθὸν ἕως ζῶ· καὶ λαβὲ πορευθεὶς τὸ ἀργύριον.
И҆ дадѐ є҆мꙋ̀ рꙋкописа́нїе и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: и҆щѝ себѣ̀ человѣ́ка, и҆́же по́йдетъ съ тобо́ю, и҆ да́мъ є҆мꙋ̀ мздꙋ̀, до́ндеже жи́въ є҆́смь, и҆ ше́дъ возмѝ сребро̀.
and he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well?
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· εἰ δύναμαι πορευθῆναι μετὰ σοῦ ἐν Ῥάγοις τῆς Μηδίας, καὶ εἰ ἔμπειρος εἶ τῶν τόπων;
и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: могꙋ́ ли пойтѝ съ тобо́ю въ ра̑ги миді̑йскїѧ, и҆ и҆звѣ́стенъ ли є҆сѝ ѡ҆ мѣ́стѣхъ;
To whom the angel said, I will go with thee, and I know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος· πορεύσομαι μετὰ σοῦ καὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐμπειρῶ καὶ παρὰ Γαβαὴλ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν ηὐλίσθην.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ: пойдꙋ̀ съ тобо́ю, и҆ пꙋ́ть вѣ́мъ, и҆ ᲂу҆ гаваи́ла бра́та на́шегѡ живѧ́хъ.
The angel promised Tobias to lead his son to the city of Rages in the Medes, and to bring him back to him. The Lord promises to the believers from the Jewish people, although the same people are in large part blinded, that he will reveal the mysteries of his incarnation to the Gentiles, and again at the end of times, he will more broadly open the same to his people from whom he had taken flesh, accompanied and effected everywhere by the faith in his divinity. He speaks of the leading to the Medes: "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, etc." (John X). The Apostle speaks of the return: "Until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, and so all Israel will be saved" (Rom. XI).
Commentary on Tobit
Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τωβίας· ὑπόμεινόν με, καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ πατρί.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ тѡві́а: пождѝ мѧ̀, и҆ рекꙋ̀ ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ моемꙋ̀.
Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πορεύου καὶ μὴ χρονίσῃς.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: и҆дѝ и҆ не коснѝ.
So he went in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. Then he said, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with thee.
καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἶπε τῷ πατρί· ἰδοὺ εὕρηκα ὃς συμπορεύσεταί μοι. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· φώνησον αὐτὸν πρός με, ἵνα ἐπιγνῶ ποίας φυλῆς ἐστι καὶ εἰ πιστὸς τοῦ πορευθῆναι μετὰ σοῦ.
И҆ вше́дъ речѐ ѻ҆тцꙋ̀: сѐ, ѡ҆брѣто́хъ, и҆́же по́йдетъ со мно́ю. се́й же речѐ: пригласѝ є҆го̀ ко мнѣ̀, да ᲂу҆вѣ́мъ, ко́егѡ пле́мене є҆́сть, и҆ а҆́ще вѣ́ренъ є҆́сть, є҆́же и҆тѝ съ тобо́ю.
9–10Tobias brought the angel to his father, who greeted him, saying: "May joy be with you always." To which he replied: "What joy will there be for me, who sit in darkness and do not see the light of heaven?" He said, "Be of strong spirit, it is near that you will be healed by the Lord." And our Lord, through the miracles he performed in the flesh, showed the people of the Jews, from whom he had taken flesh, that he himself is the Son of God, and the angel, that is, the messenger of the Father's will. To whom he also proclaimed the joy of eternal salvation, saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. III). And to those despairing of acquiring the heavenly light: "I am," he said, "the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John VIII).
Commentary on Tobit
So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτόν, καὶ εἰσῆλθε, καὶ ἠσπάσαντο ἀλλήλους.
И҆ призва̀ є҆го̀: и҆ вни́де, и҆ привѣ́тствоваста дрꙋ́гъ дрꙋ́га.
Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τωβίτ· ἀδελφέ, ἐκ ποίας φυλῆς καὶ ἐκ ποίας πατριᾶς εἶ σύ; ὑπόδειξόν μοι.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ тѡві́тъ: бра́те, ѿ ко́егѡ пле́мене и҆ ѿ ко́егѡ ѻ҆те́чества є҆сѝ ты̀; скажи́ ми.
11–12When Tobias asked the angel where he was from, he said: "I am Azarias, the son of the great Ananias." Azarias means "the Lord is my helper," Ananias means "grace of the Lord." And the Lord intimates to those who believe in him that he is the one whom the prophet, desiring his coming, sang: "Be my helper and my deliverer, O Lord, do not delay" (Psalm LXIX). Of whom also the evangelist says: "And we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John I).
Commentary on Tobit
To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired man to go with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him, I would know, brother, thy kindred and name.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· φυλὴν καὶ πατριὰν σὺ ζητεῖς ἢ μίσθιον, ὃς συμπορεύσεται μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ σου; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τωβίτ· βούλομαι, ἀδελφέ, ἐπιγνῶναι τὸ γένος σου καὶ τὸ ὄνομα.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: пле́мене и҆ ѻ҆те́чества ты̀ и҆́щеши; и҆лѝ нае́мника, и҆́же спꙋтьше́ствꙋетъ съ сы́номъ твои́мъ; И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ тѡві́тъ: хощꙋ̀ бра́те, вѣ́дати ро́дъ тво́й и҆ и҆́мѧ.
Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of thy brethren.
ὃς δὲ εἶπεν· ἐγὼ ᾿Αζαρίας ᾿Ανανίου τοῦ μεγάλου, τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου.
Ѻ҆́нъ же речѐ: а҆́зъ а҆зарі́а а҆нані́и вели́кагѡ ѿ бра́тїи твоеѧ̀.
Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome, brother; be not now angry with me, because I have enquired to know thy tribe and thy family; for thou art my brother, of an honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and Jonathas, sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits; and they were not seduced with the error of our brethren: my brother, thou art of a good stock.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὑγιαίνων ἔλθοις, ἀδελφέ, καὶ μή μοι ὀργισθῇς, ὅτι ἐζήτησα τὴν φυλήν σου καὶ τὴν πατριάν σου ἐπιγνῶναι. καὶ σὺ τυγχάνεις ἀδελφός μου ἐκ τῆς καλῆς καὶ ἀγαθῆς γενεᾶς· ἐπεγίνωσκον γὰρ ἐγὼ ᾿Ανανίαν καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοὺς υἱοὺς Σεμεΐ τοῦ μεγάλου, ὡς ἐπορευόμεθα κοινῶς εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα προσκυνεῖν, ἀναφέροντες τὰ πρωτότοκα καὶ τὰς δεκάτας τῶν γεννημάτων, καὶ οὐκ ἐπλανήθησαν ἐν τῇ πλάνῃ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν. ἐκ ῥίζης καλῆς εἶ, ἀδελφέ,
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: бла́гѡ прише́лъ є҆сѝ, бра́те, и҆ на мѧ̀ да не гнѣ́ваешисѧ, ꙗ҆́кѡ взыска́хъ пле́мѧ твоѐ и҆ ѻ҆те́чество твоѐ ᲂу҆вѣ́дати, и҆ ты̀ є҆сѝ бра́тъ мо́й ѿ добра̀ и҆ бла́га ро́да: зна́хъ бо а҆́зъ а҆нані́ю и҆ і҆ѡнаѳа́на сынѡ́въ семе́а вели́кагѡ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ходи́хомъ кꙋ́пнѡ во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ кла́нѧтисѧ, приносѧ́ще перворѡ́днаѧ и҆ десѧти̑ны плодѡ́въ, и҆ не заблꙋди́ша въ заблꙋжде́нїи бра́тїи на́шеѧ: ѿ ко́рене вели́кагѡ є҆сѝ, бра́те:
But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachma a day, and things necessary, as to mine own son?
ἀλλὰ εἰπόν μοι τίνα σοι ἔσομαι μισθὸν διδόναι· δραχμὴν τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὰ δέοντά σοι ὡς καὶ τῷ υἱῷ μου.
но рцы̀ мнѣ̀, кꙋ́ю тебѣ̀ и҆́мамъ мздꙋ̀ да́ти; дра́хмꙋ на де́нь и҆ нꙋ̑жднаѧ тебѣ̀ ꙗ҆́коже и҆ сы́нови моемꙋ̀:
Yea, moreover, if ye return safe, I will add something to thy wages.
καὶ ἔτι προσθήσω σοι ἐπὶ τὸν μισθόν, ἐὰν ὑγιαίνοντες ἐπιστρέψητε.
и҆ є҆щѐ приложꙋ̀ тебѣ̀ над̾ мздꙋ̀, а҆́ще здра́ви возвратите́сѧ.
Then, having prepared everything to be carried on the way, Tobias said goodbye to his father and mother, and they both walked together. With the Lord appearing in the flesh, all things that pertained to the redemption of the world and by which the faith and life of the holy Church would be nourished and strengthened, until the end of the way of this age, were prepared; that is, his virtues, doctrine, temptation, passion, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Holy Spirit, faith of believers, and persecution by unbelievers. Having accomplished these in Judea, the Mediator of God and men preached through the apostles to the people and the synagogue, from whom he had taken the origin of the flesh, the joys of heavenly salvation and peace. And to those who wished to believe and receive, he granted these things through himself, and thus he came to the salvation of the Gentiles in those same his teachers.
Commentary on Tobit
So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all things for the journey, his father said, Go thou with this man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them.
καὶ εὐδόκησαν οὕτως. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Τωβίαν· ἕτοιμος γίνου πρὸς τὴν ὁδόν· καὶ εὐοδωθείητε. καὶ ἡτοίμασεν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ τὰ πρὸς τὴν ὁδόν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ· πορεύου μετὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου, ὁ δὲ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ οἰκῶν Θεὸς εὐοδώσει τὴν ὁδὸν ὑμῶν, καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ συμπορευθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξῆλθαν ἀμφότεροι ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ὁ κύων τοῦ παιδαρίου μετ᾿ αὐτῶν.
И҆ благоизво́листа та́кѡ. И҆ речѐ къ тѡві́и: гото́въ бꙋ́ди къ пꙋтѝ, и҆ да благоспѣши́тсѧ ва́ма. И҆ ᲂу҆гото́ва сы́нъ є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆̀же къ пꙋтѝ. И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆гѡ̀: и҆дѝ съ человѣ́комъ си́мъ: ѡ҆бита́ѧй же на нб҃сѝ бг҃ъ бл҃гоꙋстро́итъ пꙋ́ть ва́шъ, и҆ а҆́гг҃лъ є҆гѡ̀ да спꙋтьше́ствꙋетъ ва́ма. И҆ и҆зыдо́ста ѻ҆́ба ѿитѝ, и҆ пе́съ ѻ҆́трочища съ ни́ма.
But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent away our son? is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us?
ἔκλαυσε δὲ ῎Αννα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Τωβίτ· τί ἐξαπέστειλας τὸ παιδίον ἡμῶν; ἢ οὐχὶ ἡ ράβδος τῆς χειρὸς ἡμῶν ἐστιν ἐν τῷ εἰσπορεύεσθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκπορεύεσθαι ἐνώπιον ἡμῶν;
Пла́касѧ же а҆́нна ма́ти є҆гѡ̀ и҆ речѐ къ тѡві́тꙋ: почто̀ ѿпꙋсти́лъ є҆сѝ ча́до на́ше; и҆лѝ не же́злъ рꙋкѝ на́шеѧ є҆́сть, внегда̀ входи́ти є҆мꙋ̀ и҆ и҆сходи́ти пред̾ на́ма;
Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child.
ἀργύριον τῷ ἀργυρίῳ μὴ φθάσαι, ἀλλὰ περίψημα τοῦ παιδίου ἡμῶν γένοιτο·
сребро̀ сребро́мъ да не возврати́тсѧ, но ᲂу҆ме́ты сы́на на́шегѡ да бꙋ́детъ:
For that which the Lord hath given us to live with doth suffice us.
ὡς γὰρ δέδοται ἡμῖν ζῆν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, τοῦτο ἱκανὸν ἡμῖν ὑπάρχει.
ꙗ҆́кѡ бо даде́сѧ на́ма жи́ти ѿ гдⷭ҇а, сїѐ дово́льно є҆́сть на́ма.
Then said Tobit to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return in safety, and thine eyes shall see him.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Τωβίτ· μὴ λόγον ἔχε, ἀδελφή· ὑγιαίνων ἐλεύσεται, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὄψονται αὐτόν·
И҆ речѐ є҆́й тѡві́тъ: не печа́лисѧ, сестро̀, здра́въ прїи́детъ, и҆ ѻ҆́чи твоѝ ᲂу҆́зрѧтъ є҆го̀:
There is no other second goodness existing in the Son, except that which is in the Father. And therefore the Savior also rightly says in the Gospel, “There is none good except one only, God the Father.” With such an expression it may be understood that the Son is not of a different goodness but of that only that exists in the Father. He is rightly termed the image of the Father because he proceeds from no other source but from that primal goodness. Otherwise there might appear to be in the Son a different goodness from that which is in the Father. Nor is there any dissimilarity or difference of goodness in the Son. Therefore, no one should imagine that there is a kind of blasphemy, as it were, in the words, “There is none good except one only, God the Father,” as if someone thinks this denies that either the Son or the Holy Spirit is good. However, as we have already said, the primal goodness is to be understood as residing in God the Father, from whom both the Son is born and the Holy Spirit proceeds, retaining within them, without any doubt, the nature of that goodness that is in the source from which they are derived. And if there is anything else in Scripture that is called good (angels, human beings, servants, treasure, or a good heart or a good tree27), the word good is not used with its proper meaning, since these uses refer to outward goodness, not an essential goodness.
On First Principles 1:2.13
For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return safe. Then she made an end of weeping.
ἄγγελος γὰρ ἀγαθὸς συμπορεύσεται αὐτῷ, καὶ εὐοδωθήσεται ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψει ὑγιαίνων. καὶ ἐπαύσατο κλαίουσα.
а҆́гг҃лъ бо бла́гъ спꙋтьше́ствовати бꙋ́детъ є҆мꙋ̀ и҆ благоꙋспѣ́етсѧ пꙋ́ть є҆гѡ̀, и҆ возврати́тсѧ здра́въ.
Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel. But he knew not;
καὶ ἐπορεύθη ζητῆσαι ἄνθρωπον καὶ εὗρε τὸν Ῥαφαήλ, ὃς ἦν ἄγγελος, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει·
И҆ и҆́де и҆ска́ти человѣ́ка, и҆ ѡ҆брѣ́те рафаи́ла, и҆́же бѣ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ, и҆ не вѣ́дѧше: