The book of Tobit is part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canon, but it is considered apocryphal by Protestants. It tells the story of Tobit, a devout Jew living in exile in Nineveh, and his son Tobias. Here is an overview of the key events and themes of this ancient religious text:
Setting and Characters
The book is set during the Assyrian exile of the northern tribes of Israel in the 8th-7th centuries BC. The two main characters are:
- Tobit – A faithful Jew living in Nineveh, who suffers many misfortunes.
- Tobias – Tobit’s son, who embarks on a journey to Media to collect a debt.
Other important figures include Sarah, a woman plagued by a demon who kills her husbands on their wedding nights, and the angel Raphael, who guides and protects Tobias on his journey.
Story Summary
The basic plot is as follows:
- Tobit is blind and living in poverty in exile, though he continues to perform good deeds.
- In faraway Media, a woman named Sarah has been married seven times, but each husband has been killed by the demon Asmodeus before the marriage could be consummated.
- God hears the prayers of Tobit and Sarah and sends the angel Raphael in disguise to help them.
- Raphael arranges for Tobias to travel to Media to collect a debt owed to his father. Tobias travels with his dog and Raphael.
- Along the way, a fish tries to swallow Tobias’ foot, but Raphael guides him to catch the fish and remove its heart, liver, and gall bladder, which can be used for healing and to drive away demons.
- In Media, Raphael arranges for Tobias to marry Sarah and shows them how to drive away Asmodeus using the fish organs before consummating the marriage.
- Raphael also collects the debt money.
- They return to Nineveh, where Raphael uses the fish gall to heal Tobit’s blindness.
- Raphael reveals his true identity and returns to heaven.
- Tobit praises God in a long prayer and hymn of thanksgiving before dying at an old age.
Major Themes
Some of the notable themes and messages in Tobit include:
- Faithfulness – Both Tobit and Sarah maintain their faith and virtue despite difficult trials.
- Prayer – Constant sincere prayer to God for help is lifted up by characters and rewarded.
- Almsgiving – Charitable deeds and alms are praised and encouraged as virtuous acts.
- Intercession of Angels – The archangel Raphael is sent by God to guide and protect the righteous.
- Redemption – God hears their cries and redeems Tobit, Sarah and Tobias from their afflictions.
- Obedience – Tobias learns the value of obeying his father and the angel Raphael.
- Purity – Sexual purity, morality and marital fidelity are emphasized.
Purpose and Theology
Scholars debate the exact purpose and date of composition. But overall it seems to have been written:
- To encourage Jews living under foreign domination to remain faithful to their traditions.
- To emphasize core Jewish values like almsgiving, prayer, purity laws, and obedience to God.
- To offer realistic Jewish fiction and wisdom literature as an alternative to pagan literature popular at the time.
- To reinforce belief in angels as active intermediaries between God and humans.
The book assumes and reinforces a theology common within late Second Temple Judaism, including beliefs in:
- The power and providence of the one true God who hears prayers.
- Angels and demons interacting with human affairs.
- The value of obedience to the Law, charity, prayer and purity.
- The importance of exercising faith in the midst of trials.
- Life after death and reward/punishment from God.
Literary Features
Some notable literary features include:
- A linear narrative style with realistic details and plausible plots.
- Dramatic elements like dangerous journeys, a demonic villain, magical organs, and a happy resolution.
- Wisdom themes and genres mixed with adventure.
- Prayers, hymns and didactic speeches embedded seamlessly within the stories.
- Tight interconnectedness between the two parallel stories of Tobit and Sarah.
Origins and Authorship
The original language was probably Hebrew or Aramaic, but the earliest surviving complete texts are in Greek. Authorship is uncertain but likely dates to 200–100 BC. Traditionally it was attributed to the tribe of Naphtali. Some scholars argue a 4th or 5th century BC date and suggest Nehemiah or Ezra as plausible authors.
Historical Value
Most scholars view Tobit as a work of fiction with some historical inaccuracies. For example:
- The depiction of Tobit living in Nineveh contrasts with the exile of Israelites to Mesopotamia.
- The mention of the Jewish feast of Weeks (Shavuot) is anachronistic.
- The seven husbands of Sarah exceed realistic numbers.
- The withdrawal of funds from a bank seems dubious in that ancient setting.
However, despite the fictional plot and legendary elements, the book does give us insight into Jewish theology,values, and worldview in the late Second Temple period.
Canonical Status
Opinions vary on whether Tobit should be considered scripture:
- It was accepted into the Greek Septuagint used by early Christians.
- The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches accept Tobit as canonical and part of their Old Testament.
- Most Protestant groups view it as apocryphal due to its late date and lack of Hebrew originals.
- It continues to be useful for study alongside other ancient Jewish religious literature from its era.
While not considered canonical by all branches of Christianity, the dramatic story of Tobit endures as an entertaining and instructional relic of Jewish piety and thinking around 200-100 BC.