Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary Haydock's Catholic Commentary
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Haydock, George Leo. "Commentary on Tobit 3". "Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/hcc/tobit-3.html. 1859.
Haydock, George Leo. "Commentary on Tobit 3". "Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/
Verse 1
Then, retiring, ver. 25. --- Tears. He manifests no degree of impatience. (Calmet)
Verse 2
Judgment. Even in punishing, God remembers mercy, (Haydock) and never fails to perform what he has promised.
Verse 3
Parents, so as to punish me on their account. (Menochius) --- The Scripture frequently seems to indicate that this is the case; (Exodus xx. 5.) and the Church still prays, Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents. (Calmet) --- But children are only punished when they imitate the wicked conduct of their ancestors: they may be afflicted, though innocent, as their virtue will thus be tried, and shine more gloriously. (Haydock) --- The pagans, being convinced that God can be guilty of no injustice, and perceiving that people who appeared to be free from sin were yet unhappy, concluded that they were explaining the sins committed in another world. (Plotin. ii. 13.; Origen, prin. iii.) (Calmet) --- This might arise from a confused notion of original sin. (Pascal’s Thoughts.) (Haydock)
Verse 6
Peace. Greek, "that I may be dissolved, and return to the earth; (literally, become earth) because it is more advantageous for me to die than to live, since I have heard false reproaches, and am much grieved. Command that I may be freed from this necessity, to go to my eternal place." (Haydock)
Verse 7
Rages. In the Greek it is Ecbatana which was also called Rages. For there were two cities in Media of name of Rages: Raguel dwelt in one of them and Gabelus in the other. (Challoner; Menochius) --- Profane authors mention a Rages in the vicinity of Ecbatana. (Diodorus Bib. 19.) --- It may here denote the province. (Worthington)
Verse 8
Asmodeus, "the fire of Media." Hebrew, "king of the devils," of that country, exciting people to lust, (Menochius; Serarius, q. 8.) and destroying them. (Worthington) --- Unto her. Greek and Hebrew intimate, when they first entered the nuptial chamber, chap. vi. 14.
Verse 9
Murder. Greek, "Dost thou not understand that thou hast suffocated thy husbands. Thou has already had seven husbands, and has not received the name of any of them. Why dost thou strike us on their account? If they be dead, go along with them. May we," &c. (Haydock)
Verse 10
At. Greek And Hebrew, "Hearing these things she was much grieved, so as to be unable to breath; (Haydock; Greek: oste apagxasthai) or, on the point of strangling herself." (Grotius) (Calmet) --- But this interpretation is groundless, (Houbigant) and very injurious to Sara. (Haydock) --- She could not entertain the thought without sin. Yet the Jews had very relaxed notions on this head, Judges xvi. 30., and 1Kings xxxi. 4. God approved the conduct of Sara. (Calmet) --- Greek continues, "and she said, I am the only daughter of my father. If I do this thing, (as the servants suggested) it will be a disgrace for him....and she prayed before the window; and said, Blessed," ver. 13. (Haydock) --- There is no mention of the three days. Hebrew and Syriac also omit ver. 16 to 24. (Calmet)
Verse 13
Name. Greek, "Blessed art thou O Lord, my God, and blessed the name of thy glory, holy and glorious for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever." (Haydock) --- As she prayed for a long time, the Vulgate gives some sentences; and the Greek and Hebrew others. (Serarius; Salien) (Menochius)
Verse 15
Earth. Holy men have thus desired to die, as was the case with Moses, Elias, Job, and St. Paul provided God was willing. (Menochius)
Verse 16
Coveted, through impure love. Greek, "I am pure from all the sin of a man, and I have not defiled my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of our captivity. I am only child, " &c. (Haydock) --- Lust: a very high ecomium; which Sara mentions without vanity, placing her confidence in God. (Menochius) (Proverbs xx. 9.)
Verse 17
Play, lasciviously, (Menochius) or dance. (Hugo.) (Exodus xxxii. 1.)
Verse 21
Crowned. James i. 12. --- Delivered from falling, (Menochius) and in due time from affliction. (Haydock)
Verse 22
CHAPTER III.
Verse 25
Raphael, "the medicine of God." He is invoked not only for health, but also in journeys. (Calmet) --- Both. Greek and Hebrew of Fagius add, "Tobit, by taking away the white film, and to give Sara....for a wife to Tobias....and to bind Asmodeus, the wicked devil; because Tobias was to have her. At the same hour, Tobit returning entered his own house, and Sara....descended from her upper room." (Haydock) --- Lord, by the angel, Acts x., and Apocalypse v. (Worthington)