TOBIAS - Chapter 5

Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859 edition.

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TOBIAS - Chapter 5

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Tobias v.

Notes & Commentary:

Ver. 2. I cannot. Greek, "as I know him not; and he gave him the handwriting, and said to him: Seek," &c. (Haydock) --- The Greek, &c., had not before noticed this token. (Calmet) --- Hitherto Tobit had spoken in the first person. (Haydock)

Ver. 5. Beautiful; resplendent with celestial majesty. (Calmet) --- Greek, "he found Raphael, who was an angel, and he knew it not, and said to him: Canst thou go with me to Rages, of Media, and art thou acquainted with the places?" (Haydock) --- This angel prefigured Jesus Christ, who took indeed our human nature. (Ven. Bede) (Worthington)

Ver. 7. Israel. This is not in Greek, &c. But the old Vulgate has, "Raphael answered, of the children of Israel, thy brethren, I am come hither for work," (Haydock) or employment. (Calmet)

Ver. 8. Often. Greek, "lodged with Gabael, our brother, and Tobias," &c.

Ver. 11. He saluted. Greek, "they saluted each other," (Haydock) --- The rest till ver. 16, is omitted also in Syriac and Fagius. But the Hebrew of Munster nearly agrees with the Vulgate. (Calmet)

Ver. 18. But lest. Greek Comp., "and Tobit said, brother, I wish to know thy race and thy name. But he replied, I am of the race of Azarias, and of Ananias, who is also thy brother." Whitaker would have this to be a lie. (Haydock) --- But the apparitions of angels are not to be examined by the ordinary rules of life. They take the name of God without scruple, as they acted in his name, Genesis xxxi. 11. (Calmet; Menochius; Tirinus) --- Azarias. The angel took the form of Azarias; and therefore might call himself by the name of the man whom he personated. Azarias, in Hebrew, signifies the help of God; and Ananias, the grace of God. (Challoner) --- Tobias had not inquired whether he was a man or an angel, as Houbigant answers the objection of Prideaux. (Haydock) --- The "help and medicine of God" nearly correspond. (Worthington)

Ver. 19. Thy family. Greek, Syriac, &c., add, "Thou art my brother, of a noble and good race. For I know Ananias and Jonathan, sons of the great Semei, as we went together to Jerusalem to adore, carrying the first-born, and tithes of the produce; and they did not join in the error of their brethren. Thou art of a great stock, brother. But tell me what reward I shall give thee? A drachm a day, and what may be requisite for thee and for my son. And I will give more than the hire if you return in health. And they agreed; and he said to Tobias, Be in readiness for the journey, and may you be directed: and his son prepared the requisites for the journey," &c. (Haydock)

Ver. 22. Then all. It was not easy to procure provisions on the road. --- Together. Greek and Syriac add, (Calmet) "and the dog of the child with them."

Ver. 27. Angel. This was the persuasion of the ancient Hebrews, approved by the gospel, Matthew xviii. 10. Some of the fathers also believed that each person had an evil angel tempting him to sin. (Origen, St. Gregory Nyssa, Vit. Mosis.; Cassian, col. viii. 17. (Calmet) --- But this opinion is discarded. (Haydock)

Bible Text & Cross-references:

Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertaketh this office.

1 Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.

2 But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell: he knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.

3 Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.

4 But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.

5 Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.

6 And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?

7 But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?

8 And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus, our brother, who dwelleth at Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.

9 And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.

10 Then Tobias going in, told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.

11 So going in, he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.

12 And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?

13 And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.

14 And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus, at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.

15 And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.

16 And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?

17 And Raphael, the angel, answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself, to go with thy son?

18 But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias, the son of the great Ananias.

19 And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.

20 And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.

21 And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.

22 Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bid his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.

23 *And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.

24 I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.

25 For our poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.

26 And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.

27 For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.

28 At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.

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23: Tobias x. 4.