Tobijah (Hastings' Dictionary)

1. One of the Levites sent by Jeho.shaphat to teach in the cities of Judah, 2 Ch 17' (LXX oni. ). 2. One of a deputation that came from Babylon to Jei-usalem with contributions of gold and silver, from which a crown wa.s ordered to be made either for Zerubb.abel and Joshua (Ew. llitz. ) or for Zerub. and not Josliua (Wcllh. Now., cf. G. A. Smith, ii. 3uSf. ), and laid uj) in the temple as a memorial of the donors. Zee G'"- '■ (LXX in both passages tr. .t^id by xp'J<'''M<". i.e. C'?'°). TOBIT, BOOK OF (A /3/(3Xos \bywv TuifUr, B Tu^SeiT, N lu^ilO ; Lat. liber Tobiw, liber Tubit et Tubia, liber utriusque 'I'obice ; = llah. .i.^to = ' J eliovah is my good,' and ■j'lo, dropping the theophoric affix n;). — One of the deutero-canonical books of the OT, containing, according to Jewish conception.s, an idyllic picture of pious home life in the Captivity. "i. Texts and Veksions. — Tlie popularity of the story of Tobit is attested by the number of varia- tions in wliii:h it exists in several languages. We shall, in the course of this article, endeavour to prove that the book was originally composed in Aramaic; though all trace of the orij^inal is lost, and the Aramaic MS, now extant, is somewhat late, and was not taken directly from it. (1) Greek Version. — Of this we have three texts : (a) that of AB. The diil'ercncca between these two 786 TOBIT, BOOK OF TOBIT, BOOK OF MSS are few iind unimportant, (i) That of K, which while giving little additional matter, adopts a more verbose style than AB. Whether AB or jc nresents the earlier text is much disputed. Fritzsche, Noldeke, Grimm support AB ; Ewald, Keusch, Scluirer, Nestle, Harris, N. (c) A recension of 6»- IS'', found only in three cursives: the Zittau Cod. 44 and tlie Ferrara Codd. 106, 107, and given at length by Fritzsche (Handhuch z. d. Apokr. ). These ]>re- sent a composite Greek text. From 6" to 7" it presents many features of originality, but contains many of s's additions to tlie text of B, e.g. 6'^'- ■jii-13 ifxom 8' to 12« it agrees closely with the Syriac, which, as we shall see, during this section transfers its allegiance from B to K. From 12' to 13" it presents some readings of B, as 12' 13'-^, but agrees in the main with Syr., even when Syr. differs from both B and S, as in 12'=-'». Before 6» and after 13 our cursives present the text of B. (2) Latin Versions. — (a) Vetus Itala or Old Latin, which Ilgen, in 1800, coiTectly surmised was based on a then unknown Gr. text, which has proved to be that of K. Tliougli all codices of this Version agree substantially with N, there are clearly three recen- sions, (a) It. I., the text edited by Sabatier (Bihli- orum sacrorum Latinw versioties antiqiKr, Paris, 1751) and by Neubauer (in his excellent little work, The Book of Tobit ). It is based on a Parisian Codex, Regius 3654, and on Cod. 4 in the library of S. Germain. (^) It. II., a text found in Cod. Vat. 7 which contains only 1-6'-, and once belonged to queen Christina of Sweden. It was collated by Sabatier in the above work, and was edited by Bianchini, Rome. 1740. (7) Fragments of a third recension (It. III.) are given in the Spccuhcm of Augustine, edited by Mai {Spicilegium, ix.).— (6) The Vulgate. Jerome afbrms that lie translated Tobit in one day from the Syro-Chaldee. As he was not familiar mth this language, a Jew, who knew both languages, translated it for him into Hebrew, from wliich he made his Latin transla- tion. There are many readings in Vulg. that were not found in any otlier text, until Gaster, 18<J6, discovered a Heb. MS, which in tlie narrative, as distinct from tlie exhortations and prayers, agrees in the main with Vulg. (see below, HL). (3) Hi/riac Version. — This has been edited by Walton in his Polyglot ; and by Lagarde in Libri apokr. Syriace. As far as 7" it is a close transla- tion of B. After that, it agrees with K or the Gr. cursives. It lacks 13""'^ (4) Chaldee or Aramnic Ver.tion (Aram.). — This was first edited by Neubauer from a collection of Midrashim, copied in the 15th cent, in Greek- rabbinical characters. The Book of Tobit is an extract from the Midrash rabbah-de-rabbnh on Genesis, and forms a liaggada on Jacob's promise to give a tenth of his proceeds to God (Gn ii-'). Neubauer tliinks that the Chaldee text of Jerome was Aram, in a fuller form ; but in the view of the present writer there are facts which seem to imply that the Aram, is a translation from the Greek. The facts that the dat. 'Pd7ois (4' 5°) is found in Aram, as [?•:■!, and 'EK/Jardvois (3' 6') as D':n3;i<, and the ace. liypi.t' (6') as I'li'B ; and that the Gr. words 6.piaTov (2') and a-q^Luov (5-) are transliterated in Aram., atl'ord strong proof that Aram, is based on a Greek text : not on X (as Schiirer), for Aram, agrees more often with B than with N ; but on a briefer text tlian either, and more free from Christian influences. (5) Hebrew Versions. — (a) Heb. Munsteri (HM), BO called because it was published, with a Lat. tr., by Seb. MUnster, at Basle, in 1542. The first edition, however, was printed at Constantinople in 1516. It is included in Walton's Polyglot, and also in Neubauer's Tobit. Neubauer gives, in the foot- notes, various readings from No. 1251 of the Heb. MSS in the National Library at Paris: from a Persian tr. from the Heb. which is No. 130 in the same Library ; and No. 104 of de Rossi's catalogue, at Parma. It is noteworthy that HM usually agrees with Aram, when tlie latter dissents from the Greek. In chs. 12. 13, where Aram, is lacking, HM presents an eclectic text, agreeing in the main with SjT., but for 13^-'» it has an original and very brief doxology, and omits ch. 14 altogether. Gins- burg assigns it to the 5th century.— (6) Heb. Fagii (HF). This is a free, independent translation, made perhaps in the 12th century. The translator was a learned Jewish scholar, fond of precise, technical terms ; very familiar with the Heb. Bible, and fond of introducing suitable Bible texts, and of reducing the text of Tobit to biblical phraseology. Tiiis is also given in Walton's Poly- glot.—(c) Heb. Londinii (HL) is a text found by Gaster in the British Museum, Add. 11,639. A description and translation of the MS, which lielon"S to the 13th cent., is given by Gaster in PSBA, vol. xviii. 208 ff., 259 ff., and vol. xx. 27 ff. So far as the exhortations, prayers, and doxologies are concerned, they are certainly late. They develop, in a remarkable decree, the tendency observable in HF to reduce the text to biblical phraseology. In the exhortations, etc., HL gives us a cento of Scripture texts, skilfully selected as being most cognate to the Gr. text. As to the narrative, it is intensely interesting to note how closely HL agrees with Vulg., and Gaster claims for the MS as a whole a close relationship to the ' Syro-Chaldee ' used by Jerome. As to the narra- tive portions, tlie author of HL certainly nuit/ have used an Aramaic or Heb. text closely related to Jerome's 'Syro-Chaldee,' though, if the doxologies, etc., are of late composition, one cannot escape the unpleasant surmise that HL may be drawn from the Vulg. itself.— (rf) Heb. Gasteri (HG). Thiswas copied some years ago by Gaster from a Midrash on the Pentateuch, which he fears has now perislied. It is a condensation in Heb. of the narrative por- tions of Aram., witli the exhortations, prayers, and doxologies rigorously excluded, ;ind all approach to verbosity in tlie narrative sternly checked. It is possible that tlie author of HL may have possessed a similar History, exhibiting those peculiarities of the Vulg. which, until tlie publication by Gaster of the translation of HL, were considered unique in tlie Vulgate. The tr. of HG is given in PSBA vol. xix. 33 f. Its agreements with Aram, are very siguiticant. ii. TuK Nakeative.— Tobit, a pious Jew of the tribe of Naphtali, very scrupulous as to feasts and tithes, was, with his wife Anna and his son Tobias, taken into captivity by Enemessar (Shalmaneser) to Nineveh. Even there he remained loyal to Mosaism, abstaining from eating the food of tlie Gentiles ; and yet became in time the kings pur- veyor. Once when travelling in Media, he de- posited 10 talents of silver with a brother Jew named Gabael, at Rhagaj (Racks). When Sen- nacherib (who is called in 1" Enemessar s son) returned from Judah, Tobit fell into disfavour, chiefly from his habit of buryin<; Jews who were assassinated in the king's fury. Tobit fled, but, on the entreaty of his nephew Achiacharus (Ahiliar), was reinstated by king Sarchedonus (Esarliaddon) (ch. 1). At a feast of Pentecost he sent out his son to bring in some poor Jew to dine with him. Tobias returned, saying there was a Jew lying in tlie street strangled. Tobit rose at once, hid hini, and at night buried him. Bein<r thus rendered unclean, he slept in tlie courtyard ; and sparrows ' muted warm dung into his eyes ' and blinded him (2'-"'). Reduced to poverty again, Anna wove and spun for hire, and one day, under provoca- tion, she reproached her husband for his blind- TOBIT, BOOK OF TOBIT, BOOK OF 78. ness; whereupon he prayed to die(3"'). The same day, in Ecbatana ot >Iedia, Sarah, the daughter of llagiiel and Edna, who had been married seven times, but whose husbands liad all died on the bridal night, was reproached by a maid for having ebiin them ; whereas it was Asinoda'us, the arcli- demon, who slew them. She also prayed to die {3"'). The prayers of lK)th were hearil, and Raphael was sent to deliver both of them. Tobit, in view of his death, wished to send Tobias to llhagie, to fetch the silver, and gave him a lon^ exhortation (ch. 4). When Tobias sou-^bt a guide, Raphael ortered bis services, pretending to be Azarias, a kinsman. The guides wages beii.g iixed, the two Bet out with a favourite dog for Media (ch. 5). On the way, wiiile Tobias was bathing in the Tigris, a great lish tlireatened him, but lie caught it ; and on liaphaers advice cut out its heart, liver, and gall for medicinal use later on (ch. 6). Passing through Ecbatana, they stayed with Rac:uel ; and Tobias asked for Sarah in marriage, lie had been pre- viously instructed by Raphael how to exorcise the demon from Sarah, and uefore night the marriage •was celebrated (cli. 7). Raguel naturally is appre- hensive, and digs a grave at midnight ; but the odour of the heart and liver of the Hsh, when burnt on ashes, caused Asmodaius to tlee to Egypt, whither Rapliael follows him and binds him ; and Tobias and Sarah, after unitinj; in prayer, pass the night in peace (S^'*). Edna satisfies herself on this during the niglit, and Raguel, after previously thanking God, Ulls in the grave and prepares the nuptial festivities, which lie swears must last 14 days(8'^"-'). Raphael goes forward to Rhagie, secures the silver, still sealed in bags, from Gabael, and brink's him back to the wedding, where he pours his blessings on the bridal pair (ch. 9). The festivities over, Raguel Bends forth Tobias and bis wife in peace to Nineveh, and gives them half his wealth (10^"^-). Anna has for days been very miserable, and has stood all day on tlie highway watching, at intervals re- proaching poor bliml Tobit for allowing their son to go (10'"). When at length she sees Tobias and Azarias who had come on in front, she runs to tell Tobit. Tobias skilfully applies the gall of the mysterious lish to his father s eyes ; a white film peels ofl'and his sight is restored. Then Tobit and Annawelcome Sarah with pious wishes (ch. 11). All that remains is to reward the faithful Azarias. Father and son agree to give him half of all they have. Whereupon he discloses bis identity and re- turns to heaven (ch. 12). In ch. 13 we have a Song of Thanksgiving from Tobit ; and in ch. 14 Tobit, being now very old, gives to his son and grandsons his dying valedictions, and urges them to leave Nineveh for Media. After his death they go to Media, and arrive in time to witness the death of Ra-uel and Edna. Tobias lives to a ripe old age, and is allowed to hear the glad news of tlie destruc- tion of Nineveh. VaRIATIOSSOFTUE N ARRATiVB tS THR several VEIISIOSS. — 1( we compare the Jcwiah VSS with the (Jr. and LaU we flud three intureaLiiig variati<jris : (a) Ararn. arni Heh. VSa all omit reference to the dog, which tl»o other VSS mention, (b) In 8^ the Jewish VSS (oa also 9yr.^ narrate that after TohlaM' prayer in the bridal chamber, Sarah Bald Amcii ; the rest, that they both tOKether said Amen.' (c) In 68 oa Aram., IIM, HK eay that Oabacl gave Tobit his ban « token, not his bumL Aram., HL, HO, and Vul^,'. differ from the real in that through- out they speak o( Tobit In the third person, whereas all other t«xt0 make Tobit speak in the Qret person aft (ar aa Si^ The third is used afterwarda [.V.B.— Except when quoting from the Volg., the verses ue tboM of the RV]. PeexUxarH\e$ (if Uxt.—{m) B stands alone (except HO) In omitting the bleiwing of Oabael, 9« ; ami in its romlensation of Edna's prayer, lO'^; though IIL and Viilg. omit this entirulv. Unique readings are : glory of the great Itapho:!, 31^ ; Jonah^ 148; Naibas. IIW; Aman, UlO ; 168 years old. 14U.— </3) k. There are scores of frix»t odded by M to the text of B. A few 01Q7 be noted : 1^ Thisbe is 'west of Thogor ' ; P iHracl Ba<Ti- ficxd CO the calves ou all the Mta. of Galilee ' ; K" on the 7tb of the month Dysirua e cut the web ' ; 53 Raguel and Tobit divided the oond into two, and each took half ; S" the men- dacious angel says, ' I have come here to work ' ; 08 ' blow on the films' ; cL also lOio Vl^ 13i6. K omits 47io (owing probably to a leaf being lost) and IS^b-io In 1318 jt gives the correct spelling 'Axn«a/f, and gives a fuller account of him than B. — (■y) Greek cursin.^. A remarkable Gnostic reading occurs in b'^ 'Let all the ^Eons praise thee, and let thy angels bless thee. This is the only Or. text which says the dog ran bc/vre them' (ll^X — (8) i>i/riac, which is really two recensions con- nected at 711, shows the (act in change of spelling : Achior, 210 ; Ahikar, 1410; lUga, 4i- "•»; 'Ara^', »= ; Edna, 72; 'K.hia, 714. Alterations :— 102 years, 14'- ; 1U7 \ ears, 141 ; 10 days, b-^. Addi- tions : — Edna dressed Sarah, 71^ ; Anna put on a veil before going to meet her son, 11". Omissions : — ISO-lt, where Tobit exults in the glories of the future Jerusalem ; 14^ Jonah ' and also Nahum ' ; 14^ the woi-ds, ' but not like to the former house ' ; 14^^ that all nations shall forsake idolatry ; 71^ the marriage contract. — () Aramaic is embedded in a Midrash, and is inserted there to show the merit of giving tithes. The moral at the end also is : Ht-hold we learn how great is the power of alms and tithes,' and On 14^0 gQi3 28-^ are cited in continuation. Its chief peculiarity is that the SIS virtually closes with ch. 11. A few lines, in place of Oreek ch. 12, state that U.'iphael did not go into the house, but went his way ; and when Tobias went out to seek him he could not find him, nor had any one seen him ; and thus Tobit knew he was an angeL In place of ch. 14, Aram, states that, when Tobit fell sick, he called for his son and impressed on him the importance of almsgiving from the example of the three patriarcha Aram, omitcj Tobit's genealogy, 1; Alpiljar's offices, 1^ \ Elymais, 210; and the dog, 6" e^N 11^ On the other hand, it txpanda Sennacherib's return, 18 ; Anna's welcome to Sarah, U^ ; and Tobit's thanksgiving. Ill, in 10"^ Aram, and HM say, 'Anna ate nothing but tears.' Aram, abridges the destination of the three tithes, l^-s ; calls Asmodseus ' kijig of Shedim,' i^- 1"+ ; and renders 6" 'without money, God has fed us.' It contains 47-i» lacking in K ; and agrees with B against K about as often as with K against B. — (0 ileb. Munsteri is remarkable for its omissions from the Or., sometimes pruning its redundancies as in 4«. Ilia 611- 1-+. With Aram, it omits I-i ; Klymais, 2lo. It omits Sarah's intention to hang herself, 310; and her going to meet Tobias, 71. It omits ' Noah ' from 4l3 ; the citation of On 21* in a^ ; Tobit's conversation with Anna, 10'-- ; and Ahiljar's visit. 111. It abridges Tobit's prayer for death, 3^ ; and the prayers In 8^ 8i-'f- 12^^. But HM hua also several original enlargements : notably after 120, where we have ft Midrosh on the mischief caused by Sennacherib. After 'i it cites Is P, and Ps 17^^ after 410. It abridges and modiiies the Song in ch. 13 (omittin-^ ch. 14), and its last words are, ' O Lord of the world 1 show us m our days salvation and rwlemption by the coming of our Redeemer and the bnikiing of Ariel' ; then citing Jer 23*, Ps 147-. Theological features are the thrice repeated prayer for ' children devoted to the Law,' 8^ 96 iqU ; tlie designation of Raphael as 'prince,' 3i7 1215; Jerusalem as ' Ariel,' 131" ; and Jehovah as ' the Holy One, blessed be he,' 41" 121'-+. A play on words occurs in 3' ' It is not meet to call thee Sarali, out ^farah (distress).' Instances in which IIJI agrees witli Aram, against the Or. are : lio (dwell),, li^ (until his death), 2io (every morning), 53 9- ^ (bag), 3»o 1211 (throne), 017 (under her clothes), 61° (' foreseen ' for •foreordained'), 10' (nothing but tears).— (»;) Heb. Fa'jii dilTers from B very con- siderablv. It is fond of inserting OT texts : S^ Ps 401^, 30 I's 033, 413 i»r lO'S, 4i« Pr 3^, 13^ Ps 80^5 gon 7210, JerSli?. It aims at precision: in speaking of peace-offerings,' l;a beka" for ^a drachma,' ^4; 'the right of redemption, 3" 710 ; Hhe eternal home,' 3" ; the Torah and the Hulakhah,' 71^ ; the seven blessings, 71^ ; the cemetery, S^ ; and ospeci.illy in l', where It assigns the thinl tithe Mor the repair of the breaches of the house,' ct 2K 22. Interesting theological allusions occur: Sifl prayer was heard before our Father in heaven, 4il the iudgment of Oehinnom, 86 the first Adam, Ci" llic union of Tobias and Sarah was foreseen from the Uth day of creation, 81 the vEons of the Gr. cursives are describi'd as ' those who are exalted above all blessing and praise,' 141^ 'the house shall stand until the completion of one mon.' But the learned lUbbl was no geographer. He gives AlemaniaaOennany for Elvninis in 210; Midian for Media, l"; and Laodicea (V), 0^. The latter part of ch. 14 is meagre. Ahikar is omitted lli» 14io._^(j) ijeb. Lond, is, as wo have said, "remarkable for presenting many readings heretofore found only in Vuiu'ate. Such, e.g., arc l' ' power to go where he wished '+, 1^ Tobit fled naked with wife and son, 2l'^'f the parallel between Tobit and Job, Sio Sarah spent 3 days in prayer, Ci«o^- Raphael wlviscs 3 nights of con- tinence. HL also agrees with Vulg. in omitting Abitr&r Lu B 210 and the doctors in N 2io, as well as in many other omis- sions ; but HL gives the absurd amount of lO(K) talents In 1' ; It narrates Sarali's intended suicifle, which Vulg. omits, 3'8 ; it states that Anna went to the outakirtJiof the town, 6II ; and that a large i>arty went with the bridal ]mT a day's Journey home wards ; and every one gave a ring uf gold and a kMtah and k Eie<'e of silver. 111 ; it cuso introduces two long original prayers, V Tobias and Sarah, in the bridal chamber, ch. 8. \'ulg- <nly gives Sjirah's praver thus : ' Be merciful to us, O Lord, be merci- ful, and let us both grow old healthily together,' H'O.— ^,) HQ has a few unique readings: f,g. 'dust'for dun';.'2l0; ring' for 'hond.'tr; and that Tobias put the heart of the Ush on a ci-jvter and burnt it under Sarah's clothes. It is verv brief, but agrees closely with Aram.: e^g. HO uid Arauu oni^' say that 788 TOBIT, BOOK OF TOBIT, BOOK OF the fish 'sought to eat the bread of the youth,' 62. — (x) Ilala is a close translation of K. We have collated only the text given by Neubauer. Its chief eccentricity is the spelling of proper names. Bihelfor Thisbe, 1^ ; Kaphain for Phogor, 12; Bathania for Eobatana, ffi\ Anna (so Vulg.) for Edna, wife of RagueL It states that Raphael read the prayers before God, rji- ; and gives 'didrachma' for 'drachma,' 61'-. — (x) \'ul;jate, Jerome omits (with HL)all mention of Ahi^ar, except in 11-0, which is probably an interpolatiuiL He also omits the patriarchs in 4'- ; thefateof Nadab, 14io ; and the fate of Nineveh, 14i5, But he has several additiona Some we have mentioried under HL. Others are Sarah's prayer, 313 j and her self-vindication, 3'^^-. These are found in HL, but in more biblical language ; but Vulg. alone states that Tobias, father and son, remained three hours on th^'ir faces before Raphael, 12— ; that the dog wagged its tail, 119; that the coating of an egg peeled off Tobit's eyes, 1114; that Tobias held his father half an hour, 1114 ; and closed the eyes of Raguel in death, 1415. Scholars have often pointed out the indications in Vulg. of the fact that Jerome was a Christian and an ascetia Even if pro^^sionall.v we concede that he had an Aram. MS before him, which in the narrative resembled HL, Jerome's personal influence can still be traced. The three nights' continence we should have to surrender (tJlSfT-)^ as this is in HL : but HL does not contain '2i^, where in Vulg. Tobit savs, ' We are sons of God, and wait for tliat iife which God is about to give ' ; 80 129 1213 911. iii. Original Language. — We wish now to adduce evidence, which we trust will be regarded as conclusive, that the original language was Ara- maic. (1) The Aram, form -nnN (Heb. -nsx) is found in X 14" 'ABovpeia., and 14 '-Affrip. (2) If we accept alphabet 69 in Euting's Tabula Script urce Ara- nuiicce as an approximation to the Aram, alphabet used {ex hypotliesi) in the original copy of Tobit, we find that it explains tlie diverse form of many proper names, as in each case the letters con- founded are very similar : e.g. n'hd in K 5'^ for n-ycc in B ; nDD:y for icio'^c' ; mnjD in K 1" + for DnnjD ; 'js'ay HF 9' for Vnd: ; lis in N 1' for lya ; '^.tin for Vnivi ; 'icp in X 10" for "03 in Syr. (3) The variants in the VSS are often po-sisible render- ings of the same .'Vramaic word. ' The mountain of Ararat,' 1" (Bx, Syr., It.), and 'the land of Ararat ' (Aram. HM, HF), are possible renderings of "Be (Sclnvallj', hliolicon, 37). ' Thou judgestyor ever,' 3-, [Bx, It.] 'Thou judgest the world,' [Aram., HM], give D'?yS ; 5' 'Wait young man' [X Sjt.], ' Wait a little ' [Aram. HM], give Tyt ; 2 ' I left the meal' [x Vulg.], 'I left the table' [Aram. HM, It.], give unns^. In Pal. Syr. at Ac 16" this word is used for rpivtiav. In 4" Jerome has constitue for iKx^or, thus giving to iip, imperative of Aram. -01 ' to pour out,' the meaning of Heb. in or 130. (4) In other instances the variants yield similar Aramaic words — 1< K, Eebi, ItoU Syriac lis nb IIM, HF 1>S .s-B, Aramaic Ilala la KB ItaU 2« B N Itala 2i» KB HK, It. a 4a K HF 81' K, HF Itala S> K Itala ion B M 11" B H was btiilt In It 'J3nN was prophuvd In It •3jnN Ood gave roe ^t^p^w icniDT God gave me favour uninm I gtoU the bodies naiJ I wrapped . . . nDJV all the./fna7iti4^ of the kin^om K:3rn all the care . . . Krcn your pleamtres pa-ma? your icaya fa''}'i!s your songi pa'nac' Achiacharus nourished me oj-15 Ach. persuaded me O-.j bury me honourably im.ia bury me immtdiuUiy inina Take her n^Kb Agk tor her nS W bound him forthwith •an returned forthwith iin Honour thy father Tin Beium to thy father rq daubed It on hU eye nz blew into bis eyei n'£x 121s KB thou didst cover tlie dead rivpi? Syriao thou didst carry aiiay, etc. nipc 1214 KB sent me to heal thee KD'D Itala „ „ to test thee K"SO 144 N our brethren shall be eouTtted pi'isn' B „ , shall be scattered pcnEn- 145 M the time of the seaaont K'Ziy HF „ „ one aon '» oVy Itala „ „ eurgingt l«'337V iv. Historical Character.— This was ne«ei called in question until Luther did so. The minuteness of its details has often been adduced as evidence of its historicity, and it must be ad- mitted that there is nothing in it so marvellous and superstitious as to be incredible to educated men of antiiiuity. The angelophany is only a sliglit amplification of Gn 18 ; possession by un- clean spirits was a recognized belief, and exorcism by fumigation was recognized in medical science. W. R. Smith quotes from I;Caswini, i. 132, that ' the smell of the smoke of crocodiles' liver cures epi- lepsy, audits dung and gall cure Leucoma ' (£nt,-.yc. Brit.' art. ' Tobit '). Without calling in question that the book probably rests on a real history, the following considerations forbid our regarding it as being what it claims to be, viz. a narrative wTitten in the 7th cent. B.C. :— (1) It contains historical errors, (o) It was Tiglath-pileser who took Naph- tali and Zebulun into captivity (B.C. 734), not Shalmaneser, 2 K 15-^. (j3) Sennacherib was not Shalmaneser's son (1"), but the son of Sargon a usurper. (7) It is implied in l* that Tobit was a boy at the time of Jeroboam's revolt from the house of David. (5) The occurrence of Ahasuerua (14") and Aman (A W>) ought not to be pushed. 'Affiripos in B is a scribe's blunder for 'Adovplas in X, and 'Audi' in A is due to the same cause, taking 'Axiixapos for Mordecai. — (2) It is a geographical error to put the Tigris between Nineveh and Ecbatana ; and also to state (so X Aram. HM, It.) that llhagae is two days from Ecbatana. B omits the ' two days ' ; but in 6' says that Ecbatana was ' nigh unto Rhagie.' It took the army of Alexander 10 days to march from one to the other (Arrian, iii. 20).— (3) The spirit and theological tone belong to a later date. V. Date of Composition. — Most Roman Catho- lic authorities, relying on 12™ 13', ascribe the book to the 7th cent. B.C. Ilgen maintains that 1-3' 13'"' was written by Tobit in B.C. 6S9, and the rest in Palestine about B.C. 280. Ewald fixes it B.C. 350. Graetz assigns it to the time of Hadrian (A.D. 130), and Kohut to A.D. 2'26. 'The chief reason alleged for the last two dates is that it is considered that the one principal object of the book is to insist on the duty of burying the dead. Twice in Jewish history was this prohibited : after the fall of Bether, so valiantly defended by Bar Cochha, and in Persia under Ardeshir I. Both these dates are probably non- suited by the fact that Tobit is cited by Polycarp (t 155). The following considerations suggest the 2nd cent. B.C. as the probable date :— (1) Unless it could be shown that 14' is prophetic, it implies that the writer was living at the time of a temple which was inferior in grandeur to Solomon's, ».«. before the time of Herod. (2) The law of marriage with relatives, so strongly insisted on also in the Book of Jubilees, fell into desuetude before the 2nd cent. A.D. (Rosenmann, Studien z. B. Tobit). (3) The prominence given to the duty of interring the dead may well have been caused by the action of Antiochus Epiphanes, who, we are told (2 Mac 6'"), ' cast out a multitude unburied.' (4) Marriages with Gentiles still needed discouragement, 4" 6". (5) It contains no bright eschatology, and no TOEIT, BOOK OF TOGAR.MAH 789 Messianic hope, from wliich it seems to have been written beforu the persecution of Antiochus. (0) Its soteriolugital and ethical tone closely resembles that of otlier works known to have been written ttbout a century B.C. This we will now try to prove. vL TOBIT AND CONTIiMPORARV JEWISH LlTERA-