Here is my interpretation of this part of The Old Testament. I start with transcribing and copying down key parts of each chapter. These notes, listed by chapter, are found at the very end at the bottom below. Words and phrases are highlighted (bold but not italicized) that touch my heart, my soul and/or raised questions in my spiritual consciousness.
Then I select key notes and weave them into a narrative to tell the story of how the Scriptures impacted me and/or expanded my biblical knowledge and spirit. These interpreted sections immediately are highlighted and italicized.
With gratitude that the Spirit of the Living God is in our hearts and impacting our world!
As in these times as in biblical times how we choose to act or react in times of great challenges and times of distress tell a lot about who we are spiritually. There is so much spiritual wisdom found here that most all of the Scriptures is included:
But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name, and from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and to abstain from all sin.
And when by the captivity… he kept his soul and never was defiled with their (Gentiles) meats. And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God gave him favor in the sight of Salmanasar the king. And gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty to do whatever he had a mind. He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them wholesome admonitions.
…and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had been honored by the king… he saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.
Tobias went daily among all his kindred, and comforted them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods. He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off the bodies of them that were slain, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them.
…and as he was sleeping, hot dung fell out of a swallow’s nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind.
Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job.
Maybe this is why bad things happen to good righteous people sometimes in life…
For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him, but continued immovable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life.
TROML Baby (an exclamation of Joy)! (TROML is an acronym for ‘The Rest of My Life—T—R—O—M—L.’ As in all the days of my life!
…so his relations and kinsman mocked at his life, saying: Where is thy hope, for which thou gavest alms, and buriedst the dead?
But Tobias rebuked them, saying: Speak not so, for we are the children of saints, and look for that life which God will give to those that never change their faith from him.
…whereby it came to pass, that she received a young kid, and brought it home… he said: Take heed, lest perhaps it be stolen: restore ye it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat or to touch any thing that cometh by theft.. his wife being angry answered: It is evident thy hope is come to nothing, and thy alms now appear. And with these, and other such like words she upbraided him.
Prayers answered…
At that time the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God, and the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael, was sent to heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the Lord.
Here is a true Father-to-Son talk…
Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee. According to thy ability be merciful. If thou have much give abundantly; if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity. For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it.
Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime. Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for from it all perdition took its beginning. If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all.
I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus… and I have a note of his hand with me… Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.
Younger Tobias answered his father: I will do all things, Father, which thou hast commanded me. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell…
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.
Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man… And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man? But he answered: Of the children of Israel… Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.
Raphael to older Tobias: Joy be to thee always.
Older Tobias: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?
Raphael: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand… I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.
Older Tobias to God’s Angel Raphael: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you… (said to God’s angel).
Young Tobias’ Mother: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us. I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been. For our poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.
Older Tobias to his wife: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him. 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.
At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.
…brother Azarias (Angel Raphael), tell me what remedies are these things good for… If thou put a little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or woman, so that they come no more to them. And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a white speck, and they shall be cured.
Angel Raphael to young Tobias: Raguel… he hath a daughter named Sara… All his substance is due to thee, and thou must take her to wife. Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her thee to wife.
Young Tobias: I hear that she hath been given to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I have heard that a devil killed them. Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also; and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell.
Angel Raphael to young Tobias: Hear me, and I will show thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail. For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the devil hath power.
And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy… Do you know Tobias my brother?… Tobias concerning whom thou inquires is this young man’s father. And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears, and weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous man.
Tobias to Raguel, Sara’s father: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter… and as he (Raguel) was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition…
Angel Raphael to Raguel: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her…
And taking the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you. And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage. And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.
And Tobias remembering the angel’s word, took out of his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon the burning coals. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert of Upper Egypt.
Tobias: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God… Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.
Sara: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.
Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave… and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.
Raguel and his wife Anna: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath not happened as we suspected. For thou hast shown mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the enemy that persecuted us. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that all nations may know that thou alone art God in all the earth.
And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.
Day 167: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Prayers Galore with Truth & Good Triumphing over the Devil!
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Tobias, Chapters 1-8
Bible Notes:
This book tells of the elder Tobias, a pious Jew, who was blinded while helping his fellow exiles. Yet he patiently bore his affliction and resultant poverty. The Angel Raphael was sent to help him and his son, the younger Tobias. The book closes with the saintly deaths of both the elder and the younger Tobias.
Tobias Chapter 1: Tobias’ early piety; Tobias’ marriage; Exile of Tobias in Ninive under Salmanasar; Tobias lends money to Gabelus; Tobias flees the wrath of Sennacherib; Tobias returns home.
…when he was made captive… even in his captivity, forsook not the way of truth, but every day gave all he could get to his brethren… And when he was younger… yet did he no childish thing in his work… he along fled the company of all, and went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his firstfruits, and his tithes… These and such like things did he observe when but a boy according to the law of God.
But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name, and from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and to abstain from all sin.
And when by the captivity… he kept his soul and never was defiled with their (Gentiles) meats. And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God gave him favor in the sight of Salmamasar the king. And gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty to do whatever he had a mind. He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them wholesome admonitions.
…and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had been honored by the king… he saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.
But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place, had a hatred for the children of Israel, Tobias went daily among all his kindred, and comforted them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods. He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
And when king Sennacherib was come back… being angry slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies. But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slain, and took away all his substance. But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with his wife, lay concealed, for many loved him.
But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his own sons. And Tobias returned to his house, and all his substance was restored to him.
Tobias Chapter 2: Tobias leaves a feast to bury the dead; Tobias loses his sight; Tobias upbraided by his wife.
…one of the children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he forthwith leaped up from hos place at the table, and left his dinner, and came fasting to the body, and taking it up carried it privately to his house, that after sun was down, he might bury him cautiously.
And when he had hid the body, he ate bread with mourning and fear, remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the prophet: Your festival days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning…
But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off the bodies of them that were slain, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them.
…and as he was sleeping, hot dung fell out of a swallow’s nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind.
Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that ab example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job.
For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him, but continued immovable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life.
…so his relations and kinsman mocked at his life, saying: Where is thy hope, for which thou gavest alms, and buriedst the dead?
But Tobias rebuked them, saying: Speak not so, for we are the children of saints, and look for that life which God will give to those that never change their faith from him.
…whereby it came to pass, that she received a young kid, and brought it home… he said: Take heed, lest perhaps it be stolen: restore ye it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat or to touch any thing that cometh by theft.. his wife being angry answered: It is evident thy hope is come to nothing, and thy alms now appear. And with these, and other such like words she upbraided him.
Repined—to be fretfully discontented; fret; complain.
Upbraided—to find fault with or reproach severely; censure.
Tobias Chapter 3: Tobias prays for death; Sara patiently bears reproaches; The prayer of Sara; God sends Raphael to Tobias and Sara.
Tobias praying to the Lord: Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are just, and all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment. And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offences, not those of my parents. For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are we delivered to spoil, and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, amongst which thou hast scattered us. And now O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we have not done according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before thee. And now O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace; for it is better for me to die, than to live.
Now it happened on the same day, that Sara, daughter of Raguel… received a reproach from one of her father’s servant maids, because she had been given to seven husbands, and a devil named Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going in unto her… May we never see son, or daughter of thee upon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbands… but continuing in prayer with tears besought God, that he would deliver her from this reproach.
Reproach—to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure; to upbraid; to be a cause of blame or discredit to.
Sara praying and blessing the Lord: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers; who when thou hast been angry, will show mercy, and in the time of tribulation forgives the sins of them that call upon thee. To thee, O Lord, I turn my face, to thee I direct my eyes. I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of this reproach, or else take me away from the earth. Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have kept my soul clean from all lust. Never have I joined myself with them that play: neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness. But a husband I consented to take, with thy fear, not with my lust. And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for another man. For thy counsel is not in man’s power. But this every one is sure of that worshipeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned; and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy. For thou art not delighted in our being lost: because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou purest in joyfulness. Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever.
At that time the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God, and the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael, was sent to heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the Lord.
Tobias Chapter 4: Tobias counsels his son; Almsgiving; Purity, humility, honesty; Charity; Tobias tells of the loan to Gabelus.
Tobias: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in thy heart. When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: and thou shalt honor thy mother all the days of her life, for thou must be mindful what and how great perils she suffered for thee in her womb. And when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her next to me. And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind: and take heed thou never consent to sin, not transgress the commandments of the Lord our God.
Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee. According to thy ability be merciful. If thou have much give abundantly; if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity. For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it.
Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime. Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for from it all perdition took its beginning. If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all.
Perdition—a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation; the future state of the wicked; hell.
See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee by another. Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with thy garments cover the naked. Lay out thy bread and thy wine upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked. Seek counsel always of a wise man. Bless God at all times and desire of him to direct thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in him.
I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus… and I have a note of his hand with me… Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.
Tobias Chapter 5: Young Tobias asks his father’s advice; Young Tobias meets Raphael; Raphael offers to guide young Tobias; Young Tobias’ mother mourns his departure.
Younger Tobias answered his father: I will do all things, Father, which thou hast commanded me. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell…
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.
Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man… And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man? But he answered: Of the children of Israel… Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.
Raphael to older Tobias: Joy be to thee always.
Older Tobias: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?
Raphael: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand… I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.
Older Tobias to God’s Angel Raphael: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you… (said to God’s angel).
Young Tobias’ Mother: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us. I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been. For our poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.
Older Tobias to his wife: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him. 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.
At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.
Tobias Chapter 6: Young Tobias catches a fish; Healing power of the fish; Raphael tells young Tobias to marry Sara; The fear of young Tobias; Raphael’s directions for marriage to Sara.
…by the river of Tigris. And he went out to wash his feet, and behold a monstrous fish came up to devour him… Take him by the gill, and draw him to thee… Take out the entrails of this fish… for, these are necessary for useful medicines… the rest they salted as much as might serve them…
…brother Azarias (Angel Raphael), tell me what remedies are these things good for… If thou put a little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or woman, so that they come no more to them. And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a white speck, and they shall be cured.
Angel Raphael to young Tobias: Raguel… he hath a daughter named Sara… All his substance is due to thee, and thou must take her to wife. Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her thee to wife.
Young Tobias: I hear that she hath been given to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I have heard that a devil killed them. Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also; and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell.
Angel Raphael to young Tobias: Hear me, and I will show thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail. For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the devil hath power.
But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the chamber, and for three days keep thyself continent from her, and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with her. And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the fire, and the devil shall be driven away… And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou mayest obtain a blessing in children.
Tobias Chapter 7: Raguel receives Tobias and the Angel; Tobias and Sara become engaged.
And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy… Do you know Tobias my brother?… Tobias concerning whom thou inquires is this young man’s father. And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears, and weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous man.
Tobias to Raguel, Sara’s father: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter… and as he (Raguel) was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition…
Angel Raphael to Raguel: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her…
And taking the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you. And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage. And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.
Tobias Chapter 8: Raphael binds the devil; Prayer of Tobias and Sara; Raguel gives thanks to God; The wedding feast.
And Tobias remembering the angel’s word, took out of his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon the burning coals. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert of Upper Egypt.
Tobias: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God… Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.
Sara: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.
Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave… and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.
Raguel and his wife Anna: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath not happened as we suspected. For thou hast shown mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the enemy that persecuted us. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that all nations may know that thou alone art God in all the earth.
And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.
Speak Your Mind