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Андрей Тихомиров
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 mille
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, A
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 Se
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 Se
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 Ha
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. (Se
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 A
2 When I saw a lot of food, I said to my son: Go and bring whomever you find, a poor one of our brothers who remembers the Lord, and I will wait for you. (Invitation to the table of the poor from the “chosen people” who remember Yahweh).