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SUMMARY OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT

One night Tobit slept outdoors, with his face uncovered. He slept by the courtyard wall. There were sparrows on the wall, and bird droppings fell into Tobit's open eyes. As a result, a white film formed over his eyes and he became blind. The physicians were unable to help him. (Tobit 2:9-10)

A maiden named Sarah was reproached by her maids, who accused her of strangling seven husbands before they consummated their marriage with her. This was attributed to a demon named Asmodeus. (Tobit 3:8)

The angel Raphael was sent to heal Tobit's eyes, and to bind the demon Asmodeus, and to give Sarah in marriage to Tobias, the son of Tobit. (Tobit 3:17)

Tobias (Tobit's son) was traveling with the angel Raphael (who appeared in the form of a Jewish man named Azarias). A fish leaped up from the river and tried to swallow Tobias. Then the angel told Tobias to catch this fish. He caught it and threw it on the land. Then the angel told Tobias to cut the fish open and to keep the heart and liver and gallbladder. He said that smoke from the heart and liver would drive demons and evil spirits away. He also said that if a man's eyes are covered with white films, then having them anointed with the fish gall would heal him. (Tobit 6:1-9)

Tobias was afraid to marry Sarah because seven husbands had died in her bridal chamber. The angel told him to take burning incense and put the heart and liver of the fish on it in order to make a smoke. He said that when the demon smelled the smoke he would flee and never return. (Tobit 6:11-17)

Tobias married Sarah. He put the heart and liver of the fish upon burning incense. When the demon smelled the odor he fled to the "remotest parts of Egypt" and the angel bound him. Tobias and Sarah went to sleep. Sarah's family was greatly relieved the next morning when both of them were still alive. (Tobit 7:1-8:14)

Tobias and his new wife went to Tobit's home. The angel Raphael told Tobias to take the fish gall with him and rub it on his father's eyes. He did, and Tobit's eyes were healed. (Tobit 11:2-16)

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Does this seem consistant with the other OT scriptures to you?

Does it seem inspired?

YYZ- Just because the book is "strange" or "weird" to our modern sensibilities it does not necessarily mean it was uninspired.

The introduction to the Book of Tobit for The New American Bible- http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/tobit/intro.htm (Link also to Tobit if you are interested in reading it)

Tobit
Introduction

The Book of Tobit, named after its principal hero, combines specifically Jewish piety and morality with oriental folklore in a fascinating story that has enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles. Prayers, psalms, and words of wisdom, as well as the skillfully constructed story itself, provide valuable insights into the faith and the religious milieu of its unknown author. The book was probably written early in the second century B.C.; it is not known where.

Tobit, a devout and wealthy Israelite living among the captives deported to Nineveh from the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C., suffers severe reverses and is finally blinded. Because of his misfortunes he begs the Lord to let him die. But recalling the large sum he had formerly deposited in far-off Media, he sends his son Tobiah there to bring back the money. In Media, at this same time, a young woman, Sarah, also prays for death, because she has lost seven husbands, each killed in turn on his wedding night by the demon Asmodeus. God hears the prayers of Tobit and Sarah, and sends the angel Raphael in disguise to aid them both.

Raphael makes the trip to Media with Tobiah. When Tobiah is attacked by a large fish as he bathes, Raphael orders him to seize it and to remove its gall, heart, and liver because they make "useful medicines." Later, at Raphael's urging, Tobiah marries Sarah, and uses the the fish's heart and liver to drive Asmodeus from the bridal chamber. Returning to Nineveh with his wife and his father's money, Tobiah rubs the fish's gall into his father's eyes and cures them. Finally, Raphael reveals his true identity and returns to heaven. Tobit then utters his beautiful hymn of praise. Before dying, Tobit tells his son to leave Nineveh because God will destroy that wicked city. After Tobiah buries his father and mother, he and his family depart for Media, where he later learns that the destruction of Nineveh has taken place.

The inspired author of the book used the literary form of religious novel (as in Jonah and Judith) for the purpose of instruction and edification. There may have been a historical nucleus around which the story was composed, but this possibility has nothing to do with the teaching of the book. The seemingly historical data-names of kings, cities, etc.-are used merely as vivid details to create interest and charm.

Although the Book of Tobit is usually listed with the historical books, it more correctly stands midway between them and the wisdom literature. It contains numerous maxims like those found in the wisdom books (cf Tobit 4:3-19, 21; 12:6-10; 14:7, 9) as well as the customary sapiential themes: fidelity to the law, the intercessory function of angels, piety toward parents, the purity of marriage, reverence for the dead, and the value of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. The book makes Tobit a relative of Ahiqar, a hero of ancient Near Eastern folklore.

Written in Aramaic, the original of the book was lost for centuries. The Greek translation, existing in three different recensions, is our primary source. In 1955, fragments of the book in Aramaic and in Hebrew were recovered from Cave IV at Qumran. These texts are in substantial agreement with the Greek recension that has served as the basis for the present translation.

The divisions of the Book of Tobit are:

1) Tobit's Ordeals (Tobit 1:3-3:6)
2) Sarah's Plight (Tobit 3:7-17)
3) Tobiah's Journey and Marriage to Sarah (Tobit 4:1-9:6)
4) Tobiah's Return; Cure of Tobit's Blindness (Tobit 10:1-11:18)
5) Raphael Reveals His Identity (Tobit 12:1-22)
6) Tobit's Song of Praise (Tobit 13:1-18)
7) Epilogue (Tobit 14:1-15)

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YYZ- Just because the book is "strange" or "weird" to our modern sensibilities it does not necessarily mean it was uninspired.

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Likewise, being ruled uninspired doesn't necessarily mean it can't be useful.

I don't believe it to be inspired scripture, but that doesn't mean I don't think it's worth reading. The Talmud isn't inspired either, but it's very worthwhile for study.

I find it utterly inconsistant with the God I see and how He works in all the rest of scripture...

YYZ- Why Catholocism? thread...

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It is the height of arrogance to claim that the Bible is only the Bible because WE say it is… The Word of God has it’s own authority whether it is recognized by someone or not

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Greatheart, this is my new favorite quote.

I've always enjoyed the book of Tobit. It's historical fiction, and where is it not consistent? God doesn't send angels to look out for us?

I don't view Tobit as inspired scripture, (the Jews never accepted it into their canon), but I see nothing that I can say is inconsistent with the teachings of Paul (I am, of course, assuming that it was Paul who wrote Hebrews):

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Hebrews 13:2: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

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Where do you suppose Paul got that idea?

[This message has been edited by Bracy (edited 2/17/2004 12:23a).]

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Hebrews 13:2: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
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Where do you suppose Paul got that idea?

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Well Abraham entertained 3 guests on their way to Sodom and Gomorrah, and at least two of them were probably angels. Then there is Gideon when he asks for all of those signs before he goes into battle. Samson's mom also comes to mind.

Orbit:

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Well Abraham entertained 3 guests on their way to Sodom and Gomorrah, and at least two of them were probably angels. Then there is Gideon when he asks for all of those signs before he goes into battle. Samson's mom also comes to mind

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And which of these angels were entertained "unawares?"