Tobit 14: Tobit's last words, and the end of Nineveh

In plain English: So the words of Tobit's thanksgiving (or: praise) came to an end. And he died in peace at one hundred twelve years old, and was buried with honor in Nineveh.

Good to know: The long Greek has Tobit's death here: "he died in peace at one hundred twelve years old, and was buried with honor in Nineveh". Brenton's verse has only "So Tobit made an end of praising God", and gives his death in verse 11, at "an hundred and eight and fifty years old".

In plain English: He was sixty-two years old when his eyes were disabled. After he saw again, he lived well (literally: in good things) and gave alms, and he went on blessing God and praising (or: giving thanks for) the greatness of God.

Good to know: The long Greek has "sixty-two years old" (written with the Greek letters for 62) and "he lived well". Brenton's verse has "he was eight and fifty years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him after eight years" and "increased in the fear of the Lord God". The text gives these numbers as they are and does not add them up.

In plain English: When he was dying, he called Tobias his son and gave him orders, saying, "Child, take your children away,

Good to know: The long Greek has "When he was dying" and "take your children away". Brenton's verse has "when he was very aged, he called his son, and the sons of his son" and "I am aged, and am ready to depart out of this life".

In plain English: and hurry off to Media, because I believe the word of God about Nineveh that Nahum spoke: all of it will happen, and it will come upon Ather and Nineveh. And all that the prophets of Israel spoke, whom God sent, will come about. Nothing will be left out of all their words, and everything will happen at its own time. In Media there will be safety, more than in Assyria and in Babylon. So I know and I believe that all that God has said will be done and will be, and not a word of what he said will fail. And our brothers who live in the land of Israel will all be counted (the Greek here is hard to put word for word) and taken captive out of the good land, and the whole land of Israel will be desolate. Samaria and Jerusalem will be desolate, and the house of God will be in grief, and will be burned, for a time (or: until a certain time).

Good to know: The long Greek has Nahum, Ather, "the prophets of Israel", safety in Media "more than in Assyria and in Babylon", and Samaria. Brenton's verse has "those things which Jonas the prophet spake of Nineve, that it shall be overthrown", "peace shall rather be in Media", and "Jerusalem shall be desolate, and the house of God in it shall be burned".

Good to know: Jonah's words are in Jonah 3:4: "Nineveh will be overthrown!" The book of Nahum begins "A revelation about Nineveh" (Nahum 1:1). Tobit's words are his own report of what the prophets said.

In plain English: And God will have mercy on them again, and God will bring them back to the land of Israel, and they will build the house again, though not like the first one, until the time when the time of the seasons is fulfilled. After that they will all return from their captivity and build Jerusalem with honor, and the house of God will be built in it, as the prophets of Israel spoke about it.

Good to know: The long Greek has "the land of Israel", "the time of the seasons", and "the prophets of Israel". Brenton's verse has "they shall build a temple, but not like to the first, until the time of that age be fulfilled" and "with a glorious building".

In plain English: And all the nations in the whole earth, all of them, will turn and fear God truly, and all of them will leave their idols, which led them astray with their lies,

Good to know: The long Greek has "all of them will leave their idols, which led them astray". Brenton's verse has "shall bury their idols".

In plain English: and they will bless the God of the ages in righteousness. All the sons of Israel who are saved in those days, who remember God in truth, will be gathered together and will come to Jerusalem, and they will live forever in the land of Abraham in safety, and it will be handed over to them. Those who love God in truth will rejoice, and those who do sin and wrongdoing will disappear from the whole earth.

Good to know: The long Greek tells of the sons of Israel gathered to Jerusalem to live forever "in the land of Abraham in safety", and of those who do wrong disappearing from the earth. Brenton's verse has "So shall all nations praise the Lord, and his people shall confess God ... shewing mercy to our brethren".

In plain English: And now, child, leave Nineveh, and do not stay here.

Good to know: The long Greek has "leave Nineveh, and do not stay here". Brenton's verse has "depart out of Nineve, because that those things which the prophet Jonas spake shall surely come to pass".

In plain English: And now, children, I give you this command: serve God in truth, and do what pleases him. And your children are to be directed (literally: it will be put under your children) to do what is right and to give alms, and to remember God and bless his name at all times, in truth and with all their strength.

Good to know: The long Greek has Tobit speak to "children": serve God in truth, and direct your children to do right and give alms. Brenton's verse has "keep thou the law and the commandments, and shew thyself merciful and just, that it may go well with thee".

In plain English: On whatever day you bury your mother with me, on that same day do not stay the night within its borders, because I see that there is much wrongdoing in it, and much deceit is carried out in it, and they are not ashamed. See, child, all that Nadab did to Acheikar, who brought him up. Was he not brought down alive into the earth? But God paid back the dishonor to his face: Acheikar came out into the light, and Nadab went into the everlasting darkness, because he tried to kill Acheikar. Because I gave alms (so the Greek reads: "in my doing alms"), he came out of the snare of death that Nadab had set for him, and Nadab fell into the snare of death, and it destroyed him.

Good to know: The names are given as each text has them. The long Greek has "Nadab" (4 times in this verse) and "Acheikar" (spelled in more than one way), and has no Manasses. Brenton's verse has "Aman", "Achiacharus" and "Manasses gave alms, and escaped the snares of death". The short Greek, as Swete prints it, has "Adam" where Brenton has "Aman".

Good to know: The long Greek also has "do not stay the night within its borders", because of the wrongdoing and deceit in Nineveh. Brenton's verse has "bury me decently, and thy mother with me; but tarry no longer at Nineve". Achiacharus (Brenton's spelling) is named in 1:21, 1:22, 2:10 and 11:18; the text tells the story of Nadab only in these words.

In plain English: So now, children, see what alms does, and what wrongdoing does: it kills. And look, my life is failing (literally: my soul is fading)." They laid him on the bed, and he died, and he was buried with honor.

Good to know: The long Greek has "and what wrongdoing does: it kills" and "my soul is fading", and gives no age here. Brenton's verse has "how righteousness doth deliver", "he gave up the ghost in the bed, being an hundred and eight and fifty years old".

The Greek word: "Alms" is eleēmosynē, the word explained at 12:8. In the long Greek it is in verses 2, 9, 10 and 11 of this chapter.

In plain English: When his mother died, Tobias buried her with his father. Then he and his wife went away to Media and lived in Ecbatana with Raguel his father-in-law.

Good to know: The long Greek has "he and his wife went away to Media and lived in Ecbatana". Brenton's verse has "Tobias departed with his wife and children to Ecbatane to Raguel his father in law".

In plain English: He cared for them with honor in their old age, and buried them in Ecbatana of Media, and he inherited the house of Raguel and that of Tobit his father.

Good to know: The long Greek has "he cared for them with honor in their old age" and "the house of Raguel". Brenton's verse has "he became old with honour" and "he inherited their substance, and his father Tobit's".

In plain English: And he died with honor, at one hundred seventeen years old.

Good to know: The long Greek has "one hundred seventeen years old". Brenton's verse has "an hundred and seven and twenty years old", and the short Greek, as Swete prints it, has one hundred seven. The text does not explain the difference.

In plain English: Before he died, he saw and heard of the destruction of Nineveh, and he saw its captives being led into Media, whom Achiacharus the king of Media took captive. And he blessed God for all that he did to the sons of Nineveh and of Athouria. Before he died he rejoiced over Nineveh, and he blessed the Lord God forever and ever. Amen.

Good to know: The long Greek has "Achiacharus the king of Media" and "the sons of Nineveh and of Athouria". Brenton's verse has "the destruction of Nineve, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus". Both Greek forms end with "Amen"; Brenton's verse does not.