Old Tobias dieth at the age of an hundred and two yeares, 5. exhorteth his sonne and nephewes to pietie, forshewing that Niniue shal be destroyed, and Ierusalem reedified. 14. yonger Tobias returneth with his familie to Raguel, and dieth happely as he had liued.
1And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias was restored to his sight, he lived two and forty years, and saw the children of his grandchildren.Così finì Tobia di parlare: ed egli dopo aver ricuperata la vista visse quarantadue anni, e vide i figliuoli de' suoi nipoti,AND the wordes of Tobias were ended. And after that Tobias was restored to his sight, he liued two and fourtie yeares, and saw the children of his nephewes.Et consummati sunt sermones Tobiæ. Et postquam illuminatus est Tobias, vixit annis quadraginta duobus, et vidit filios nepotum suorum. 2And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he was buried honorably in Ninive.È compiuta che ebbe l'età di cento due anni fu orrevolmente sepolto in Ninive.Therfore an hundred and two yeares being accomplished, he was buried honorably in Niniue.Completis itaque annis centum duobus, sepultus est honorifice in Ninive. 3For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again.Imperocchè di cinquantasei anni perdè il lume degli occhi, e lo ricuperò di sessanta.For being six and fiftie yeares old he lost the sight of his eies, and being threescore he receiued it agayne.Quinquaginta namque et sex annorum lumen oculorum amisit, sexagenarius vero recepit. 4And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of the fear of God he departed in peace.E il rimanente della sua vita la passò in allegrezza, e con grande avanzamento nel timor di Dio andosene in pace.And the rest of his life was in ioy, and with great increase of the feare of God he went forward in peace.Reliquum vero vitæ suæ in gaudio fuit, et cum bono profectu timoris Dei perrexit in pace. 5And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias and his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them:E al punto di sua morte chiamò a se il figliuolo Tobia, e sette giovanetti figliuoli di lui suoi nipoti, e disse loro:And at the houre of his death he called vnto him Tobias his sonne, and his seuen yong sonnes, his nephewes, and sayd to them:In hora autem mortis suæ vocavit ad se Tobiam filium suum, et septem juvenes filios ejus nepotes suos, dixitque eis: 6The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the land of Israel, shall return to it.Ell'è imminente la rovina di Ninive, imperocchè non cade per terra la parola del Signore: e i nostri fratelli, che sono dispersi fuor della terra d'Israele, vi torneranno.The destruction of Niniue is neere: for the word of our Lord fayleth not: and our brethren, which are dispersed from the land of Israel, shal returne to it.Prope erit interitus Ninive: non enim excidit verbum Domini: et fratres nostri, qui dispersi sunt a terra Israël, revertentur ad eam.
7And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither.E tutto il paese deserto sarà ripopolato, e la casa di Dio, che fu ivi data alle fiamme, farà ristorata di nuovo, e torneranno colà tutti quelli, che temon Dio.And al the desert land therof shal be replenished, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shal agayne be reedefied: and thither shal al returne that feare God,Omnis autem deserta terra ejus replebitur, et domus Dei, quæ in ea incensa est, iterum reædificabitur: ibique revertentur omnes timentes Deum, 8And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall come into Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it.E le genti abbandoneranno gl'idoli loro, e verranno a Gerusalemme, e ivi abiteranno.and the Gentiles shal forsake their idols, and shal come into Ierusalem, and shal inhabite in it,et relinquent gentes idola sua, et venient in Jerusalem, et inhabitabunt in ea: 9And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it, adoring the King of Israel.E tutti i re della terra saranno ivi in letizia, adorando il re d'Israele.and al the kings of the earth shal reioyce in it, adoring the king of Israel.et gaudebunt in ea omnes reges terræ, adorantes regem Israël. 10Hearken therefore, my children, to your father: serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that please him:Ascoltate, adunque, figliuoli miei, il padre vostro: servite di cuor verace il Signore, e studiatevi di fare quello, che piace a lui.Heare ye therfore my children your father: serue our Lord in truth, and seeke to doe the thinges that please him:Audite ergo, filii mei, patrem vestrum: servite Domino in veritate, et inquirite ut faciatis quæ placita sunt illi: 11And command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds, and that they be mindful of God, and bless him at all times in truth, and with all their power.E raccomandate a vostri figliuoli, che facciano opere di giustizia, e limosine; che si ricordino di Dio, e in ogni tempo lo benedicano con cuor verace, e con tutto il loro potere.and command your children that they doe iustices and almes deedes, that they be mindeful of God, and blesse him at al time in truth, and in al their power.et filiis vestris mandate ut faciant justitias et eleemosynas, ut sint memores Dei, et benedicant eum in omni tempore in veritate, et in tota virtute sua. 12And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct your steps to depart hence:Adesso poi, figliuoli miei, ascoltate me, e non vogliate restarvi qua; ma quando che avvenga, che abbiate accanto a me seppellita nello stesso sepolcro la madre vostra, quel giorno stesso movetevi per partirvi di qua.Now therfore children heare me, and doe not tarie here: but what day soeuer you shal burie your mother by me in one sepulchre, from thenceforth directe your steppes to depart hence:Nunc ergo filii, audite me, et nolite manere hic: sed quacumque die sepelieritis matrem vestram circa me in uno sepulchro, ex eo dirigite gressus vestros ut exeatis hinc:
13For I see that its iniquity will bring it to destruction.Perocchè io veggo, che la sua iniquità la condurrà al suo termine.for I see that the iniquitie therof wil giue it an end.video enim quia iniquitas ejus finem dabit ei. 14And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children’s children, and returned to his father and mother in law.Or morta che fu sua, madre, Tobia si partì da Ninive colla sua moglie, e co' figliuoli, e coi figliuoli de' figliuoli, e tornò a casa de' suoi suoceri.And it came to passe after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Niniue with his wife, and children, and childrens children, and returned to his father and mother in law.Factum est autem post obitum matris suæ, Tobias abscessit ex Ninive cum uxore sua, et filiis, et filiorum filiis, et reversus est ad soceros suos: 15And he found them in health in a good old age: and he took care of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the inheritance of Raguel’s house came to him: and he saw his children’s children to the fifth generation.E li trovò sani, e salvi in prospera vecchiezza, ed ebbe cura di essi, ed egli fu, che chiuse i loro occhi, ed egli raccolse tutta l'eredità della casa di Raguele, e vide i figliuoli de' suoi figliuoli sino alla, quinta generazione.And he found them in health in good old age: and he tooke care of them, and he closed their eies: and al the inheritance of Raguels house he receiued: & he saw the fifth generation, his childrens children.invenitque eos incolumes in senectute bona: et curam eorum gessit, et ipse clausit oculos eorum: et omnem hæreditatem domus Raguelis ipse percepit: viditque quintam generationem, filios filiorum suorum. 16And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, with joy they buried him.E compiuti novantanove anni nel timore del Signore, lo seppellirono con gaudio.And nintie nine yeares being accomplished in the feare of our Lord, with ioy they buried him.Et completis annis nonaginta novem in timore Domini, cum gaudio sepelierunt eum. 17And all his kindred, and all his generation continued in good life, and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to all that dwelt in the land.Or tutta la tua parentela, e tutti i suoi discendenti perseverarono nel ben vivere, e nelle operazioni sante, talmente che furon cari sì a Dio, e sì agli uomini, e a tutti gli abitanti del paese.And al his kinred, and al his generation continewed in good life, and in holie conuersation, so that they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to al the inhabitantes in in the land.Omnis autem cognatio ejus et omnis generatio ejus in bona vita et in sancta conversatione permansit, ita ut accepti essent tam Deo quam hominibus, et cunctis habitantibus in terra.
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Haydock
Words. Greek, "confession; (or hymn of praise) and he was 58 years old when he lost his sight, which he recovered eight years after, and gave alms, and continued to fear the Lord God, and to confess unto him. Now he arrived at a very advanced age," 158, ver. 10. (Haydock)
Calmet
But this chronology must be abandoned. All the versions disagree; and perhaps there may be none perfectly accurate. (Calmet)
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Year of the World 3341, Year before Christ 663.
Two. Arabic and Schol. History, read "twelve."
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Seven. Greek Compl. and Alexandrian, as well as Fagius, have only "six."
14:6
Haydock
The. Greek, "Son, take thy children. Behold, I am grown old, and my life is hastening to an end. Depart into Media, my son, for I believe all that the prophet, Jonas, spoke concerning Ninive, that it will be overturned. But in Media there will be more peace for a time, and that our brethren in the land will be scattered from the good land; and Jerusalem shall be deserted, and the house of God in it will be burnt, and shall be abandoned for a time; and they shall build the house, not like the former, till the times of the world or age be accomplished; and afterwards they shall return from the captives, and shall build Jerusalem gloriously; and the house of God shall be built in it, and the edifice shall be glorious for ever, as the prophets have spoken concerning it; and all the Gentiles shall turn truly to fear the Lord God, and shall undermine (and destroy) their idols; and all the Gentiles shall bless the Lord," etc., (Tobit 14:9.) (Haydock)
Calmet
This text is of importance, as it specifies the name of Jonas, and is quoted by St. Jerome; (ibid.) though Nahum and Sophoniash (Nahum 3:8.; Sophonias 2:13.) also foretold the destruction of Ninive. It speaks of the future, and not of the past ruin, of the temple, which certainly took place after the death of Tobias. (Calmet)
Haydock
The prophets, however, frequently speak of future events, as if they were past, to shew the certainty of their predictions. (Haydock)
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Calmet
In it. Let the Jews shew when this was accomplished. We can easily point out the nations converted from idolatry to the Church of Christ, as the prophets foretold, (Jeremias 3:17., Jeremias 16:19.) (Calmet)
Worthington
It cannot, therefore, be understood of the temporal Jerusalem. (Worthington)
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Haydock
And. Greek, "And his people shall confess to God, and the Lord shall exalt his people, and all shall rejoice who love the Lord God in truth and justice, shewing mercy to our brethren. And now, son, depart from Ninive; for what the prophet, Jonas, spoke, shall surely be accomplished." (Haydock)
Menochius
This prediction was conditional, as was also the pardon of the people, who were justly punished for their relapse. (Menochius)
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Haydock
Seek with diligence, not barely doing what you are commanded. (Haydock)
Calmet
Greek is much more diffuse. (Calmet)
Haydock
"But do thou keep the law and the ordinances, be a lover of alms-deeds, and just, that it may be well with thee. Bury me with decency, and thy mother with me, and tarry then no longer at Ninive. Son, behold what Aman (Syriac, Acab.) did to Achiachar, who fed him, how he conducted him from light into darkness, and what return he made him. Now, Achiachar met with safety: but he received his due, and he went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms, and was rescued from the snare of death, which was laid for him: but Aman fell into the snare, and perished. And now, son, behold the effects of alms-deeds, and how justice brings deliverance. While he was speaking these things, his soul failed upon the bed: but he was 150 years old, and he buried him honourably." (Haydock)
Haydock
The allusion to Aman seems improper, he lived many years after the captivity; (Calmet) or rather it may refer to some other history (Houbigant) with which we are not acquainted. (Haydock)
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Haydock
And. Greek, "And when Anna, his mother, was dead; he buried her with his father. But Tobias departed with his wife and sons to Ecbatana, to Raguel, his father-in-law, and lived to an honourable old age; and he buried honourably his father and mother-in-law, and he inherited their substance, as well as that of his father, Tobit." (Haydock)
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Calmet
Fifth. Including himself. He might see the offspring of his great grandson, if he lived only 70 years after his marriage. (Calmet)
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Calmet
Nine. Syriac, 107. (Calmet)
Haydock
Greek, "But he also died at the age of 127, at Ecbatana, of Media; and he heard, before his death, of the destruction of Ninive, the citizens of which Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus led captives; and he rejoiced over Ninive before he died." We have been more particular in giving the Greek text of this book, because some look upon it as an original; and we should wish to lose no particle of the word of God, which is more precious than gold. Tobias might applaud the execution of divine justice without any private resentment. (Haydock)
Calmet
Ninive was taken by Nabuchodonosor, who acted for his father, Nabopolassar, with whom Astyages, king of the Medes, was leagued. They took the city in the reign of Chinaladan, or Sarac, in the year of the world 3378. It also fell a prey to its enemies, under Sardanapalus, in the year 3257; as the inhabitants did not persevere in sentiments of repentance, which they had entertained at the preaching of Jonas, in the reign of Phul. Hence God revealed its destruction to Tobias. (Calmet)
With joy, may refer to the surviving friends, who rejoiced interiorly at his felicity, while they wept for their own loss; or it may he understood of the deceased; who, like his father, (ver. 4.; Calmet) rejoiced in the Lord, and in performance of good works.
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Worthington
Kindred. Behold the influence of good example; (Haydock) and a proof that the true religion failed not in Israel, much less in Juda, or the Church of Christ. (Worthington)
Calmet
The virtues of these two holy men are truly deserving of applause and imitation. They thought and acted in perfect conformity with the gospel. The father might represent the old law, under all its inconveniences, while the son holds forth the light of Christ, and banishes the devil. (Calmet)
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THE BOOK OF JUDITH
The sacred writer of this Book is generally believed to be the high priest Eliachim (called also Joachim). The transactions herein related, most probably happened in his days, and in the reign of Manasses, after his repentance and return from captivity. It takes its name from that illustrious woman, by whose virtue and fortitude, and armed with prayer, the children of Israel were preserved from the destruction threatened them by Holofernes and his great army. It finishes with her canticle of thanksgiving to God.
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This can not be vnderstood of the citie of Ierusalem but of the Church of Christ.
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Gods seruantes must not only expect what shal be commanded, but also seeke to know what they ought to do.
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A notable cōmendation of Tobias familie and posteritie. And a plaine testimonie that true Religion neuer failed wholy in the tenne tribes, much lesse in the kingdom of Iuda, least of al in the Church of Christ, & new Testament.
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san Tascio Cecilio Cipriano † 258 d.C. On Works and Alms 20
… Give useful and saving precepts to your pledges, such as he gave to his son; command your children what he also commanded his son, saying: “And now, my son, I command thee, serve God in truth, and do before Him that which pleaseth Him; and command thy sons, that they exercise righteousness and alms, and be mindful of God, and bless His name always.”
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1. ET POSTQUAM ILLUMINATUS EST TOBIAS, VIXIT ANNIS 42, — scilicet ab anno aetatis 60 usque ad 102, ut sequitur.
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2. Completis itaque annis centum duobus SEPULTUS EST HONORIFICE IN NINIVE, — scilicet in loco exsilii. Huc enim translatus erat a Salmanasar rege Assyriorum, quorum metropolis erat Ninive. Dicant hic sancti se in mundo tanquam in exsilio vivere et mori, ac perinde non curent in patria apud suos mori et sepeliri. Nam: Omne solum forti patria est, ceu piscibus aequor: et ut ait Thomas Morus in Utopia: «Undique ad superos tantumdem est viae.» Tobias, ut dixi in proemio, anno sexto Ezechiae, quo cum reliquis Israelitis ductus est in Assyriam, erat 39 annorum; ergo anno 25 Ezechiae agens annum aetatis 46 excaecatus est; anno vero 27 Ezechiae agens annum 60 visum recepit, ac postea duobus adhuc annis sub Ezechia (is enim regnavit 29 annis) vixit, deinde sub Manasse annis 40, ac quadragesimo Manassis anno obiit, ante excidium Jerosolymae per Chaldaeos anno 70. Porro Graeca plures annos Tobiae tribuunt. Asserunt enim eum excaecatum anno aetatis 158. Verum ex decreto Concilii Tridentini, Sess. IV vulgata Latina ut canonica Scriptura nobis sequenda est, non Graeca.
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3. QUINQUAGINTA NAMQUE ET SEX ANNORUM LUMEN OCULORUM AMISIT (in Ninive) SEXAGENARIUS VERO RECEPIT.
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5. IN HORA AUTEM MORTIS SUAE VOCAVIT AD SE TOBIAM FILIUM SUUM, — ut ei ultima daret monita quin et oracula de excidio Ninives et gloria Jerusalem. Idem fecit Isaac Patriarcha moriturus, Gen. XXVII, 27, et Jacob, Gen. XLIX, et Moses, Deuter. XXXIII. Plato censuit animam in morte quasi morituri e corpore elevari ad divina, ut futura subinde praesentiat et praenuntiet occulto quodam naturae instinctu et signis prognosticis; sicut aves, oves et boves ex signis aeris immutati praesentiunt pluvias et tempestates. Unde Cicero, lib. I De Divinatione: «Appropinquante morte, ait, multo est animus divinior. Nam et idipsum vident, qui sunt morbo gravi et mortifero affecti, instare mortem. Itaque his occurrent plerumque imagines mortuorum; tumque vel maxime laudi student; eosque qui secus quam decuit, vixerunt, peccatorum suorum tum maxime paenitet. Divinare autem morientes etiam illo exemplo confirmat Possidonius, quod affert: Rhodium quemdam sex aequales nominasse, et dixisse, qui primus eorum, qui secundus, qui deinceps moriturus esset.» E nostris vero Arnobius, lib. II Contra gentes: «Morti, ait, vicini maxime valemus scientia, ita ut de futuris vaticinemur, ut proditum est a Platone in Apologia Socratis dixisse Socratem.» S. Gregorius, lib. IV Dialog. cap. XXV, hanc causam naturalem probat, et aliam supernaturalem adjungit. «Ipsa, inquit, aliquando animarum vis, subtilitate sua, aliquid praevidet. Aliquando autem exitura de corpore animae, per revelationem futura cognoscunt. Aliquando vero jam dum juxta fit, ut corpus deserant divinitus afflatae in secreta coelestia incorporeum mentis oculum mittunt.» Porro certum est Tobiam hic vi non naturali, sed divina afflatum praedixisse excidium Ninives aeque ac Jerosolymae, ejusque et templi restaurationem et gloriam; nulla enim signa prognostica habebat, ex quibus id ipsum colligere vel conjicere posset: unde a S. Ambrosio, libro De Tobia, ipse Propheta nuncupatur. Vide dicta proemio in Prophetas minores, cap. XXI.
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6. PROPE ERIT INTERITUS NINIVE. — Ninive saepius capta et vastata est; primo, ab Arbace Medo, qui Sardanapalum in Ninive regnantem obsedit, et ad sui urbisque incendium adegit: id factum est ante Tobiam sub Ozia rege Juda, avo Ezechiae, teste Eusebio et aliis; secundo, sub finem regni Ezechiae; nam sub annum Ezechiae 14, ab Angelo in Judaea caesus est Sennacherib, cui mox successit filius Asarhaddon, qui decem annis regnavit, in eoque desiere reges Ninives. Nam successit ei Merodach Baladan, qui subacta Ninive (ut videtur), imperium in Babylonem transtulit, ideoque in Scriptura post Asarhaddon nulli reges Assyriorum, sed tantum Babyloniorum nominantur. Hoc quoque Ninives excidium antecessit mortem Tobiae, et consequenter hoc ipsius de eversione Ninives oraculum, quod ipse moriens edidit anno 4 Manassis, qui Ezechiae patri in regno successit. Tertio, multi putant Niniven reflorescentem rursum eversam esse a Cyaxare Medo et Nabuchodonosor seniore, qui fuit pater Nabuchodonosoris Magni, sub annum 13 Josiae regis Juda; et de hoc excidio hic loqui Tobiam. Ita S. Hieronymus, Eusebius et alii. Verum Nahum, cap. II, vers. 1, ostendit Niniven eversam esse a Nabuchodonosor juniore quinto anno post excidium Jerosolymae. Porro Graeca hic addunt: Vade in Mediam, fili, quia credidi, quaecumque locutus est Jonas propheta de Ninive, quod subvertetur. In Media autem magis erit pax usque ad tempus. NON ENIM EXCIDIT VERBUM DOMINI, — editum a Jona propheta, ut habent Graeca de excidio Ninive, licet enim Ninivitae ad praedicationem Jonae poenitentes excidium sibi ab eo comminatum evaserint, tamen mox in pristina scelera relabentes, idem incurrerunt, uti post Jonam eisdem praedixit Nahum, cap. II, sed de oraculo Nahum hic non agit Tobias, quia diu ante eum vita functus est. ET FRATRES NOSTRI, QUI DISPERSI SUNT A TERRA ISRAEL, REVERTENTUR AD EAM. — Multi enim ex decem tribubus praevidentes, vel jam sentientes excidium Ninives, ex ea profugerunt, et non pauci ex eis redierunt in terram Israel. Alii veri Dei cultus studiosi junxerunt se tribui Judae, et cum ea in unum Juda regnum coaluerunt, ut dixi in Esdra et Paralip.
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7. OMNIS AUTEM DESERTA TERRA EJUS (ISRAELIS) REPLEBITUR (incolis ad eam postliminio revertentibus) ET DOMUS DEI, QUAE IN EA INCENSA EST, ITERUM REAEDIFICABITUR. — «Incensa est,» id est incendetur a Chaldaeis: loquitur prophetice de futuro, quasi de praeterito ob futuri certitudinem. Unde Graeca habent in futuro: Fratres nostri dispergentur, et Jerusalem erit deserta, et domus Dei in ea comburetur, et deserta erit usque ad tempus: et iterum miserebitur eorum Deus, et convertet eos in terram. Et aedificabunt domum non qualis prior, usquequo compleantur tempora saeculi. Et post haec revertentur de captivitatibus et aedificabunt Hierusalem honorifice, et domus Dei in ea aedificabitur. Et in omnes generationes saeculi, aedificatio gloriosa, sicut locuti sunt de ea prophetae. Et omnes gentes convertentur vere ad timendum Dominum Deum, et confodient idola sua.
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9. ET GAUDEBUNT IN EA REGES OMNES TERRAE ADORANTES REGEM ISRAEL, — id est adorantes Christum; nec enim post reditum e captivitate fuit alius rex Israel quem adorarint omnes reges terrae; Christo autem omnes gentes et reges servierunt.
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10. SERVITE DOMINO IN VERITATE, — id est vere, sincere, scilicet vero, sincero, recto, integro, totoque corde, non ficto, non false, non dimidiato, non diviso, ut dimidiam cordis animique partem Deo detis, alteram diabolo, puta idolis et cupiditatibus. Veritas ergo hic opponitur mendacio, superstitioni, hypocrisi, fictioni et simulationi. Ita Serarius.
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11. UT FACIANT JUSTITIAS, — id est opera justa, pia et sancta. In Graeco additur insigne exemplum Achiachari, qui Tobiae ex fratre fuit nepos, ut dixi cap. I, ac Manassis cujusdam, quod scilicet ambo ab impio et ingrato Aman in famae et vitae discrimen fuerint conjecti, sed sua pietate et eleemosynis evaserint; Aman vero alitus ab Achiacharo in idem inciderit, sic enim habet: Et nunc, fili, abi ex Ninive, quoniam omnino erunt quae locutus est propheta Jonas. Tu autem serva legem et praecepta, et esto amator eleemosynarum et justus, ut tibi bene sit; et sepeli me bene, et matrem tuam mecum; et non ultra maneatis in Ninive. Fili, vide quid fecerit Aman Achiacharo, qui nutrivit eum ut e luce duxit eum in tenebras, et quanta retribuit ei. Et Achiacharus quidem salvatus est, illi vero retributio data est, et ipse descendit in tenebras. Manasses in eleemosyna erat, et salvatus est de laqueo mortis quem fixerunt ei; Aman autem incidit in laqueum, et periit. Et nunc, fili, vide quid eleemosyna facit, et quomodo justitia liberat. Quis fuerit hic Aman incertum est; certum est non fuisse Aman hostem Mardochaei et Esther: hic enim Tobia longo tempore fuit posterior. Quis etiam fuerit hic Manasses ignoratur. Aliqui putant fuisse maritum Judith; nam tempus consentit, sed locus dissentit, ait Salianus; vixit enim Judith tempore Tobiae, inquit ipse, sed in Bethulia Judaeae, non in Ninive et Assyria, ubi vixit hic Manasses, de quo agit Tobias.
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14. TOBIAS ABSCESSIT EX NINIVE, — fugiens ejus excidium. Ex Ninive profectus est in Mediam ad socerum suum Raguel habitantem in Ecbatanis. Ubi nota miram Dei erga Tobiam providentiam, quae primo sub annum Ezechiae 27 Tobiam per Raphaelem direxit in Mediam et Ecbatanam, ut inde educeret Saram, et pecuniam a Gabelo reciperet, antequam Ecbatana vastaretur, itaque utrumque periculo ereptum in tuto poneret. Nam paulo post vastata est Ecbatana sub Manasse filio Ezechiae, ait Bellarminus et Salianus, de quo plura in proemio Judith. Secundo, cum postea Ecbatana reflorescente excidium immineret Ninive et Assyriae, jussit Tobiam inde excedere, et in Ecbatanam ad socerum tendere, ut illi in senio adesset, morienti oculos clauderet, et haereditatem totam adiret. Si tanta cura Deus providit amicis suis de bonis corporalibus, quanta providebit de spiritualibus, coelestibus et aeternis? Graeca addunt: Obiit autem et ipse annorum centum viginti septem, in Ecbatanis Mediae. Et audivit antequam moreretur ipse destructionem Ninives quam in captivitatem cepit Nabuchodonosor et Assuerus, et gavisus est, antequam moreretur, super Ninive. Assuerus hic a multis censetur esse Cyaxares pater Astyagis, quia fuit avus maternus Cyri primi Persarum monarchae. Qui enim Hebraice vel Chaldaice vocatur Assuerus, Graece vocatur Axuares, Oxyares et Axares, cui praeponitur Cy, vel Cu, quod Persice principem significat. Salianus vero per Assuerum accipit Phraortem patrem Cyaxaris, qui Dejoci in regno Medorum successit. Assuerus enim commune fuit regum Medorum nomen. Dices: Quomodo Tobias junior ante mortem potuit videre excidium Ninives, cum ipse juxta Latinum textum obierit anno aetatis 99, qui incidit in annum 16 Josiae; juxta Graecum vero obierit anno aetatis 127, qui incidit in annum secundum, cujus undecimo postea anno vastata est a Chaldaeis Jerusalem, ac post quinque annos Ninive, ut dixi Nahum II, 5. Respondeo primo, haec verba, quod Tobias viderit excidium Ninives, non esse in vulgata Latina, quam probavit Concilium Tridentinum, sed in textu Graeco, in quo plura addita sunt, quae discrepant, imo contrariantur Latinae vulgatae, ac proinde non videntur certa, sed ab aliquo inserta, ut quod vers. 4 et 8, ait Tobiam seniorem octo annos fuisse coecum, et vixisse annos 158, cum Vulgata asserat eum quatuor duntaxat annos fuisse caecum, et vixisse annos 102. Tobiae juniori hic dat annos 127, cum Vulgata tantum det 99. Quare nobis sequenda est Vulgata, non Graeca. Ac proinde verius non videtur Tobiam non vidisse excidium Ninives, praesertim cum Graeca hic varient. Complutensia enim Tobiae dant 127 annos; S. Athanasius vero in Synopsi 107 duntaxat; juxta Vulgatam mors Tobiae antecessit excidium Ninives 47 annis; juxta Graecum vero 14 annis. Secundo, S. Hieronymus, Eusebius et alii censent Niniven excisam anno 13 Josiae, ac sic Tobias id videre potuit: mortuus est enim anno 16 Josiae. Tertio, licet verius sit Niniven excisam anno quinto post excisam a Chaldaeis Jerusalem, tamen sub annum 13 Josiae coepit obsideri et vastari. Nam, ut ait Herodotus, lib. I, Cyaxares coepit obsidere Niniven (sub Josia), sed invadentibus Mediam Scythis, obsidionem intermisit per 28 annos, post quos cum Nabuchodonosor juniore obsidionem resumens, et instaurans, Niniven coepit et vastavit anno quinto post excidium Jerusalem, tumque Nabuchodonosor se fecit monarcham: quare hic fuit primus annus monarchiae ejus. Unde Hebraei in Seder Olam dicunt id contigisse anno primo non regni, sed monarchiae Nabuchodonosoris, qui regni ejusdem fuit annus 24; coepit enim ipse regnare anno quarto Joakim regis Juda. Et hoc videntur voluisse S. Hieronymus et Eusebius, scilicet quod Cyaxares, cum Nabuchodonosor seniore coeperit obsidere et vastare agros Ninives, sub annum 13 Josiae, idque audierit Tobias ante mortem, sed post 28 annos, cum Nabuchodonosor juniore obsidionem resumens, Niniven expugnarit. Unde Graeca habent Tobiam audiisse, non excidium, sed ἀπώλειαν, id est perditionem Ninives, quia scilicet audivit ipse ita eam obsideri et vastari, ut evadere non posset, sed necessario perdenda, id est capienda et evertenda foret, quare τὸ quam captivavit, idem est quod capere coepit; significatur enim actus inchoatus, non perfectus. Quarto, Serarius, Salianus et alii respondent saepius captam et spoliatam esse Niniven, dum ipsa certans cum Babyloniis et Medis de imperio, jam vincebat, jam ab eis vincebatur: quare incertum esse de qua Ninives perditione loquatur hic Tobias. Denique Serarius 99 Tobiae junioris annos computat a morte patris, scilicet senioris Tobiae, quibus addens annos 68 quibus cum patre Tobias in captivitate vixit, ac faciens eum duorum annorum, quando in captivitatem venit, conficit eum universim vixisse 164 annos, ita ut pertigerit ad annum 24 Nabuchodonosoris, quo eversa est Ninive, itaque eam eversam esse audire potuerit; sed haec aetas illo aevo nimia et plane paradoxa videtur.
14:16
16. ET COMPLETIS ANNIS 99 IN TIMORE DOMINI (morientem) CUM GAUDIO SEPELIERUNT EUM, — Esto enim filii ejus et nepotes dolerent de ejus morte, gaudebant tamen quod tam longam, fortunatam sanctamque vitam simili prorsus morte concluderet, cum deinceps illi jam prope centenario nil aliud in hac vita exspectandum esset, quam labor et dolor. Mori enim in senectute plena, honorata, pacifica et prospera aeque ac pia et sancta, ingens, imo extremum est hujus vitae bonum. Mortuus est ergo Tobias junior sub annum 16 Josiae regis Juda; in hunc enim annum incidit 99 vitae ejus annus, et sepultus est in Ecbatana Medorum urbe.
14:4
… Il riferimento di Tob. 14, 4 (solo cod. B) è del tutto insicuro (R. Galdos, Tobit, Parigi 1930, p. 296; A. Miller, Tobin, Bonn 1940, p. 106). Infondati risultano i tentati riferimenti a testi cuneiformi (J. B. Schaumberger). …
14:10
AHIQAR (ARAMAICO AHIA-IAQAR : « IL FRATELLO È PREZIOSO » O « CARO »)
… Sapiente assiro, cancelliere di Sennacherib (705-681 a. C.) poi di Asarhaddon (681-669). È menzionato dalla Volgata, col nome di Achior (v.) solo in Tob. 11, 20 (unito a Nabath), come congiunto di Tobia ; altre sei volte (Tob. 1,21.22; 2,10; 11,17.18; 14,10.15) dalla Bibbia greca dei Settanta (col nome di Achiacharos, cod. Sin. Achicharos) e dalle antiche versioni latine (col nome di Achichar).
14:14
… Sopravvissuta al marito, A. fu assistita dal figlio e dalla nuora fino alla morte (ibid. 14, 14).
14:15
… (i Settanta gli sostituiscono erroneamente « Artaserse »). Ricorre ancora in Esd. 4, 6; Tob. 14, 15 (testo greco, ed. sistina); Dan. 9, 1; si discute se sia lo stesso personaggio.
14:21
SARA (EBR. ŠĀRAH = PRINCIPESSA « SETTANTA ΣΈ222 »)
… I due sposi trascorsero i loro ultimi anni ad Ecbatana nella casa di Raguel (ibid. 14, 21 sgg.).
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.