The Book of Tobit – a scientific commentary on the text

Chapter 1

1 Book of tales of Tobit, son of Tobiel, Hananilov, Aduilov, Gavail, from the tribe of Asiel, from the tribe of Naphtali, (Enumeration of paternal ancestors, patriarchy is established).

2 who in the days of the Assyrian king Enemeser was taken captive from Tisbe, which was on the right [side] of Chidi Naphtali, in Galilee, above Asher. I, Tobit, all the days of my life walked the paths of truth and righteousness (Galilee – northern Palestine, Tobit found himself in Assyrian captivity. Enemessar, most likely the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V, reign: 727-722 BC, During the campaign against Israel and the siege of Samaria, a conspiracy was organized against him by the nobility, he was deposed and his half-brother Sargon II was elevated to his place).

3 And I did many good deeds to my brothers and to my people who came with me to the country of Assyria, to Nineveh. (Many captives from the “chosen people” were captured. Nineveh (home or city of Nina), the history of Nineveh dates back to the 5th millennium BC; in biblical times it was the capital city of the Assyrian kingdom (VIII-VII centuries BC Nineveh was located on the banks of the Tigris River (now the hills of Kuyunjik and Tel Nebi-Yunus, Iraq). In 612 BC it was taken by the troops of the Babylonians and Medes).

4 When I lived in my country, in the land of Israel, while still a youth, then the whole tribe of Naphtali my father was in revolt from the house of Jerusalem, chosen from all the tribes of Israel, to offer sacrifices to all of them there, where the temple of the village of the Most High was consecrated and established throughout all generations forever. (Tobit lived in Israel, the tribe ("tribe") of Naphtali diverged from the Jews, whose center is Jerusalem, the "temple of the village of the Most High" – the Jerusalem Temple in Zion).

5 As all the tribes that were revolted sacrificed to Baal the young man, so did the house of Naphtali my father. (“Departed tribes” are tribes that continued to worship the “wrong” gods: the Baals, the virgins).

6 But I alone often went to Jerusalem for the festivals, as was prescribed for all Israel by an everlasting decree, with the firstfruits and tithes of the produce [of the land] and the firstfruits of the fleece of the sheep (Tobit, however, honored the “right” god).

7 And he gave it to the priests, the sons of Aaron, for the altar: the tithe of all the produce he gave to the sons of Levi who ministered in Jerusalem; he sold the other tithe, and every year he went and spent it in Jerusalem; (Tobit was a “correct” believer).

8 And the third he gave to whomever was due, as Devorah my father’s mother commanded me, when I became an orphan after my father. (Tobit was a “correct” believer).

9 Having reached manhood, I took a wife, Anna, from our father’s family, and begat Tobiah from her. (The line of Tobit continued).

10 When I was taken captive to Nineveh, all my brothers and fellow tribesmen ate pagan food (In captivity, the Israelites ate the “wrong” food).

11 But I kept my soul and did not eat (Tobit was a “correct” believer).

12 For I remembered God with all my soul. (Tobit was a “correct” believer).

13 And the Most High granted me favor and favor with Enemesar, and I was his supplier; (Tobit became a supplier to the Assyrian king. All matters, from a religious point of view, are carried out with the “permission” of the “Almighty”).

14 And he went to Media, and gave [for safekeeping] to Gabriel the brother of Gabriel, in the Ragas of Media, ten talents of silver. (Media is a historical region in the northwestern part of the Iranian plateau, in the 70s of the 7th – mid-6th centuries BC, a kingdom with its capital in Ecbatana (in the southwest of Media), the heyday of Media under Cyaxares, in 550 -549 BC conquered by the Persians. Raga of Media or Raga is a city in Media, in the area of the modern Iranian capital of Tehran, through which the route from Ecbatana to the Caspian Sea passed. It is believed that the talent was approximately 30 kg).

15 When Enemesar died, his son Sennacherib reigned in his place, whose ways were not constant, and I could no longer go to Media. (Historical error. Sargon II became the heir of Enemesar (Shalmaneser V). Sargon II (Sharrukin), reign: 722-705 BC, defeated the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, defeated Urartu in 714 BC, but Sennacherib became the heir of Sargon II (705-680 BC), trade with Media ceased).

16 In the days of Enemeser I did many good deeds to my brothers: (Tobit helped his “chosen people”).

17 I gave my bread to the hungry, my clothes to the naked, and if I saw anyone from my tribe dead and thrown beyond the wall of Nineveh, I buried him. (The Assyrians threw the dead Israelites outside the city walls and did not allow them to bury them.)

18 I also secretly buried those whom King Sennacherib killed when he returned from Judea in flight. And he killed many in his rage. And the king looked for the corpses, but they were not found. (Tobit secretly buried the dead and murdered Israelites).

19 One of the Ninevites went and told the king that I was burying them; then I disappeared. Having learned that they were trying to kill me, I ran away [from the city] out of fear. (Tobit was denounced and Tobit fled from Nineveh).

20 And all my property was stolen, and nothing was left to me except Hannah my wife and Tobiah my son. (All of Tobit’s property was plundered; he was left with only his wife and son).

21 But before fifty days had passed, his two sons killed him and fled to the mountains of Ararat. And his son Saherdan reigned in his stead, and he placed Ahiahar Anael, my brother’s son, over the entire portion of his kingdom and over the entire administration. (Sennacherib was killed in 680 BC, the conspiracy was led by his two sons, who fled to the mountains. This was due to the fact that Sennacherib appointed Esarhaddon (Ashurahiddin), his son from a Syrian woman, as his heir and ruler of Babylon. which most likely caused discontent in court circles. Tobit's nephew took an important position under the new king, apparently he helped the new king cope with the rebels. 2 Kings, 19:37 “And while he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch , his god, then Adramelech and Sharezer, his sons, killed him with the sword, and they themselves fled to the land of Ararat. And Asardan, his son, reigned in his place. (The Assyrian slave-holding power was created by force of arms, was maintained mainly by force of arms and was constantly in need in new military victories. Any, even insignificant military failure had great political consequences. A long war with varying success would inevitably bring the Assyrian state to the brink of destruction. For the Assyrian slave owners, the first task was to strengthen their military power. She needed more and more predatory victories)").

22 And Ahiachar interceded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Ahiachar was also the cupbearer and the keeper of the ring, and the steward and treasurer; and Saherdan placed him second in line; he was my brother's son. (Tobit returned to Nineveh).

Chapter 2

1 When I returned to my house, and Anna my wife and Tobiah my son were given to me, on the feast of Pentecost, the Holy Week of Weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me, and I lay down to eat. (Every seventh year, according to the law of Moses, was called a sabbatical year; after seven sabbatical years, the next, fiftieth, year was called a jubilee. “Sacred” 7).