Tobit 8
Commentary from 1 father
And when they had supped, they brought Tobias in unto her.
ΟΤΕ δὲ συνετέλεσαν δειπνοῦντες, εἰσήγαγον Τωβίαν πρὸς αὐτήν.
Є҆гда́ же ѡ҆конча́ша ве́черю, введо́ша тѡві́ю къ не́й.
The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.
ὅτε δὲ ὠσφράνθη τὸ δαιμόνιον τῆς ὀσμῆς, ἔφυγεν εἰς τὰ ἀνώτατα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸ ὁ ἄγγελος.
є҆гда́ же ѡ҆бонѧ̀ де́мѡнъ воню̀, ѿбѣжѐ въ вы̑шнѧѧ є҆гѵ́пта, и҆ свѧза̀ є҆го̀ а҆́гг҃лъ.
When these things were done, the angel, seizing the demon, bound him. For after the renunciation of the devil, and after the confession of the right faith, follows the remission of sins, the demon having been expelled through the water of baptism. He bound him, because he restrained him from harming the faithful; though he is sometimes permitted to tempt them, so that they may be tested, he is nevertheless forbidden to overcome them lest they fall away from the faith.
He bound him in the desert of Upper Egypt. Both the desert and Egypt signify the hearts of the unbelievers, which are deserted, that is, abandoned by God, being unworthy of His habitation. And these are the same as those darkened by the shadows of their infidelity, according to the interpretation of the name Egypt. And rightly, the one who is deserted by the grace of divine light is filled by the prince of darkness. Therefore, the angel, having seized the demon who wanted to kill Tobias, bound him in the desert of Upper Egypt; because restrained from seizing the faithful, who are members of their Redeemer, the same Lord and Redeemer permits the devil to dominate only the unbelievers. In whom He also keeps him bound; for he is not allowed to harm even those impious ones he possesses as much as he desires with his insatiable fury.
Commentary on Tobit
And after that they were both shut in together, Tobias rose out of the bed, and said, Sister, arise, and let us pray that God would have pity on us.
ὡς δὲ συνεκλείσθησαν ἀμφότεροι, ἀνέστη Τωβίας ἀπὸ τῆς κλίνης καὶ εἶπεν· ἀνάστηθι, ἀδελφή, καὶ προσευξώμεθα, ἵνα ἐλεήσῃ ἡμᾶς ὁ Κύριος.
Є҆гда́ же заключє́на бы́ста ѻ҆́ба, воста̀ тѡві́а ѿ ло́жа и҆ речѐ: воста́ни, сестро̀, и҆ помо́лимсѧ, да поми́лꙋетъ ны̀ гдⷭ҇ь.
Then began Tobias to say, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed is thy holy and glorious name for ever; let the heavens bless thee, and all thy creatures.
καὶ ἤρξατο Τωβίας λέγειν· εὐλογητὸς εἶ, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, καὶ εὐλογητὸν τὸ ὄνομά σου τὸ ἅγιον καὶ ἔνδοξον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· εὐλογησάτωσάν σε οἱ οὐρανοὶ καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ κτίσεις σου.
И҆ нача̀ тѡві́а глаго́лати: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ є҆сѝ, бж҃е ѻ҆тє́цъ на́шихъ, и҆ блгⷭ҇ве́но и҆́мѧ твоѐ ст҃о́е и҆ сла́вное во вѣ́ки, да блгⷭ҇вѧ́тъ тѧ̀ нб҃са̀ и҆ всѧ̑ созда̑нїѧ твоѧ̑:
Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife for an helper and stay: of them came mankind: thou hast said, It is not good that man should be alone; let us make unto him an aid like unto himself.
σὺ ἐποίησας ᾿Αδὰμ καὶ ἔδωκας αὐτῷ βοηθὸν Εὔαν στήριγμα τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ· ἐκ τούτων ἐγεννήθη τὸ ἀνθρώπων σπέρμα. σὺ εἶπας· οὐ καλὸν εἶναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον μόνον, ποιήσωμεν αὐτῷ βοηθὸν ὅμοιον αὐτῷ.
ты̀ сотвори́лъ є҆сѝ а҆да́ма и҆ да́лъ є҆сѝ є҆мꙋ̀ помо́щницꙋ є҆́ѵꙋ ᲂу҆твержде́нїе женꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀: ѿ тѣ́хъ роди́сѧ человѣ́ческое сѣ́мѧ: ты̀ ре́клъ є҆сѝ: не добро̀ бы́ти человѣ́кꙋ є҆ди́номꙋ, сотвори́мъ є҆мꙋ̀ помо́щницꙋ подо́бнꙋю є҆мꙋ̀:
And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for lush but uprightly: therefore mercifully ordain that we may become aged together.
καὶ νῦν, Κύριε, οὐ διά πορνείαν ἐγὼ λαμβάνω τὴν ἀδελφήν μου ταύτην, ἀλλὰ ἐπ᾿ ἀληθείας ἐπίταξον ἐλεῆσαί με καὶ αὐτῇ συγκαταγηρᾶσαι.
и҆ нн҃ѣ, гдⷭ҇и, не блꙋдодѣѧ́нїѧ ра́ди а҆́зъ пое́млю сестрꙋ̀ мою̀ сїю̀, но по и҆́стинѣ: повелѝ поми́лованꙋ мѝ бы́ти и҆ съ не́ю состарѣ́тисѧ.
So they slept both that night. And Raguel arose, and went and made a grave,
καὶ ἐκοιμήθησαν ἀμφότεροι τὴν νύκτα.
И҆ спа́ста ѻ҆́ба но́щїю, И҆ воста́въ рагꙋи́лъ по́йде и҆ и҆скопа̀ гро́бъ, глаго́лѧ:
9–18Meanwhile, around the crowing of the rooster, Raguel, fearing that Tobias might have been killed by the demon, dug a grave with his servants; but when he soon learned of his safety, he ordered the grave to be filled again. The crowing of the rooster is the sound of the preachers, who, when they were proclaiming to the world that the morning and true day of faith would come after the darkness of error, there were some among the Gentiles who doubted whether the Lord had truly conquered the ancient enemy, and therefore thought it better to bury and hide the faith of His name; but afterwards, when they recognized the light of truth, as the dawn was advancing and the crowing of the rooster, that is, the voice of the doctors, became more frequent, who were accustomed to lift themselves up with the flight of an eager heart to heavenly desires, they drove away all the clouds of doubt from their minds, and truly recognized that Christ, having overthrown the enemy, is the spouse of the holy Church.
Commentary on Tobit
Saying, I fear lest he also be dead.
καὶ ἀναστὰς Ῥαγουὴλ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ὤρυξε τάφον λέγων· μὴ καὶ οὗτος ἀποθάνῃ;
є҆да̀ и҆ то́й ᲂу҆́мре;
But when Raguel was come into his house,
καὶ ἦλθε Ῥαγουὴλ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἑαυτοῦ
И҆ прїи́де рагꙋи́лъ въ до́мъ сво́й
He said unto his wife Edna. Send one of the maids, and let her see whether he be alive: if he be not, that we may bury him, and no man know it.
καὶ εἶπεν ῎Εδνᾳ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ· ἀπόστειλον μίαν τῶν παιδισκῶν, καὶ ἰδέτωσαν εἰ ζῇ· εἰ δὲ μή, ἵνα θάψωμεν αὐτόν, καὶ μηδεὶς γνῷ.
и҆ речѐ є҆́днѣ женѣ̀ свое́й: послѝ є҆ди́нꙋ ѿ рабы́нь, и҆ да ви́дитъ, а҆́ще жи́въ є҆́сть: а҆́ще же нѝ, да погребе́мъ є҆го̀, и҆ да никто́же ᲂу҆вѣ́сть.
So the maid opened the door, and went in, and found them both asleep,
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἡ παιδίσκη ἀνοίξασα τὴν θύραν καὶ εὗρε τοὺς δύο καθεύδοντας.
И҆ вни́де рабы́нѧ ѿве́рзши две́рь, и҆ ѡ҆брѣ́те ѻ҆бои́хъ спѧ́щихъ,
And came forth, and told them that he was alive.
καὶ ἐξελθοῦσα ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς, ὅτι ζῇ.
и҆ и҆зше́дши возвѣстѝ и҆̀мъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ жи́въ є҆́сть.
Then Raguel praised God, and said, O God, thou art worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise; therefore let thy saints praise thee with all thy creatures; and let all thine angels and thine elect praise thee for ever.
καὶ εὐλόγησε Ῥαγουὴλ τὸν Θεὸν λέγων· εὐλογητὸς εἶ σύ, ὁ Θεός, ἐν πάσῃ εὐλογίᾳ καθαρᾷ καὶ ἁγίᾳ, καὶ εὐλογείτωσάν σε οἱ ἅγιοί σου καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ κτίσεις σου, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄγγελοί σου καὶ οἱ ἐκλεκτοί σου εὐλογείτωσάν σε εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.
И҆ благословѝ рагꙋи́лъ бг҃а, глаго́лѧ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ є҆сѝ ты̀, бж҃е, во всѧ́цѣмъ бл҃гослове́нїи чи́стѣмъ и҆ ст҃ѣ́мъ: и҆ да блгⷭ҇вѧ́тъ тѧ̀ ст҃і́и твоѝ и҆ всѧ̑ созда̑нїѧ твоѧ̑, и҆ всѝ а҆́гг҃ли твоѝ и҆ и҆збра́нни твоѝ: да блгⷭ҇вѧ́тъ тѧ̀ во вѣ́ки:
Thou art to be praised, for thou hast made me joyful; and that is not come to me which I suspected; but thou hast dealt with us according to thy great mercy.
εὐλογητὸς εἶ ὅτι ηὔφρανάς με, καὶ οὐκ ἐγένετό μοι καθὼς ὑπενόουν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ ἔλεός σου ἐποίησας μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν.
блгⷭ҇ве́нъ є҆сѝ, ꙗ҆́кѡ возвесели́лъ мѧ̀ є҆сѝ, и҆ не бы́сть мѝ, ꙗ҆́коже непщева́хъ, но по мно́зѣй млⷭ҇ти твое́й сотвори́лъ є҆сѝ съ на́ми:
Thou art to be praised because thou hast had mercy of two that were the only begotten children of their fathers: grant them mercy, O Lord, and finish their life in health with joy and mercy.
εὐλογητὸς εἶ ὅτι ἠλέησας δύο μονογενεῖς· ποίησον αὐτοῖς, δέσποτα, ἔλεος, συντέλεσον τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν ἐν ὑγιείᾳ μετ᾿ εὐφροσύνης καὶ ἐλέους.
блгⷭ҇ве́нъ є҆сѝ, ꙗ҆́кѡ поми́ловалъ є҆сѝ двои́хъ є҆диноро́дныхъ: сотворѝ и҆́ма, влⷣко, млⷭ҇ть, совершѝ живо́тъ и҆́хъ во здра́вїи съ весе́лїемъ и҆ млⷭ҇тїю.
Then Raguel bade his servants to fill the grave.
ἐκέλευσε δὲ τοῖς οἰκέταις χῶσαι τὸν τάφον.
Повелѣ́ же рабѡ́мъ засы́пати гро́бъ,
And he kept the wedding feast fourteen days.
καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτοῖς γάμον ἡμερῶν δεκατεσσάρων.
и҆ сотворѝ и҆̀мъ бра́къ дні́й четырена́десѧть,
Raguel, rejoicing over the life of Tobias and the union and marriage of his daughter, had two fat cows and four rams killed, and prepared a feast for all his neighbors and friends. The Gentile people, rejoicing over the faith of Christ and the calling of the Gentiles to God, were so advancing in the Lord that even from their number some became teachers, and later also martyrs. They are indeed cows because they bear the light yoke of the Gospel; because they also beget and nurture those who advance to bear the same yoke by preaching. They are also rams because they are fathers and leaders of the peoples, about whom it is said: "Ascribe to the Lord the offspring of rams" (Psalm 29). They are fat cows because the doctors are filled with the grace of heavenly delight. Of which the Psalmist prays: "My soul shall be filled as with marrow and fatness" (Psalm 63). The two cows are killed because whoever for Christ either voluntarily mortifies their own body to become a living sacrifice or hands it over to the infidels to be killed: such have learned to stand against the enemy with the weapons of righteousness, on the right and on the left, that is, in prosperity and adversity. The four rams are killed because the holy doctors and martyrs preserve the four books of the holy Gospel in faith and work, because they are fortified with the four principal virtues, prudence, courage, temperance, and justice; because they establish the flock of Christ throughout the whole world, which is distinguished by four regions. Raguel had the cows and rams killed because the Gentile people taught those who came to the faith from their stock to be such that the excellence of their virtue would make them temptations for the enemy, and when tempted, he would not overcome them but make them victorious martyrs. Or certainly, he himself caused to be killed those who taught to crucify their flesh for Christ with its vices and desires. By whose death he prepared a feast for all his neighbors, because the progress, life, passion, and crown of the saints bring joy to many, and they receive them as if they were a feast, being refreshed by their examples.
Commentary on Tobit
For before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel had said unto him by an oath, that he should not depart till the fourteen days of the marriage were expired;
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ῥαγουὴλ πρὶν ἢ συντελεσθῆναι τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ γάμου ἐνόρκως μὴ ἐξελθεῖν αὐτὸν ἐὰν μὴ πληρωθῶσιν αἱ δεκατέσσαρες ἡμέραι τοῦ γάμου.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ рагꙋи́лъ, пре́жде да́же соверши́тисѧ днє́мъ бра́ка, съ клѧ́твою, да не и҆зы́детъ, а҆́ще не и҆спо́лнѧтсѧ четырена́десѧть дні́е бра́ка:
And Raguel urged Tobias to stay with him for two weeks. We also implore our Lord, praying that He may remain with us until we attain the perfection of holy rest through the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that we may rest from servile acts, that is, sins in the body, and from evil thoughts in the mind; and may He rest in our heart and body, He who said, "On whom will my spirit rest, but on the humble and quiet one who trembles at my words?"
Commentary on Tobit
And then he should take the half of his goods, and go in safety to his father; and should have the rest when I and my wife be dead.
καὶ τότε λαβόντα τὸ ἥμισυ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτοῦ πορεύεσθαι μεθ᾿ ὑγιείας πρὸς τὸν πατέρα· καὶ τὰ λοιπά, ὅταν ἀποθάνω καὶ ἡ γυνή μου.
и҆ тогда̀ взе́мъ по́лъ и҆мѣ́нїй свои́хъ да по́йдетъ со здра́вїемъ ко ѻ҆тцꙋ̀: прѡ́чаѧ же, є҆гда̀ ᲂу҆мрꙋ̀ и҆ жена̀ моѧ̀.
And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish thereupon, and made a smoke therewith.
ὁ δὲ πορευόμενος ἐμνήσθη τῶν λόγων Ῥαφαὴλ καὶ ἔλαβε τὴν τέφραν τῶν θυμιαμάτων καὶ ἐπέθηκε τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ ἰχθύος καὶ τὸ ἧπαρ καὶ ἐκάπνισεν.
Ѻ҆́нъ же и҆ды́й помѧнꙋ̀ словеса̀ рафаи́лѡва, и҆ взѧ̀ жера́токъ ѳѷмїа́мный, и҆ возложѝ се́рдце ры́бїе и҆ пе́чень, и҆ покꙋрѝ: