βAfter these things Tobias went his way, praising God that he had given him a prosperous journey, and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way till they drew near unto Nineve.β
Charan. Not the residence of Abraham, Genesis xii. 4. Syriac reads, βBazri,β or βCarrac.β Old Vulgate, ibat Caracha, quΔ est civitas in Ninive. Arrian places Carcha in Assyria, and Ptolemy mentions a Characa in Susiana. β Midway. At this rate, the distance from Ninive to Ecbatana would be 22 daysβ journey. But it is not half so much for a man travelling expeditiously. (Calmet) β Tobias had much luggage. Leaving it with his wife, (Haydock) he went from this city to Ninive in three or four days, ver. 18. (Calmet) β Greek, βAnd he travelled on till he came near to Ninive. And Raphael said,β &c.
βLet us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.β
If. Greek, βLet us go quickly before thy wife, and prepare the house.β (Haydock) β This would be necessary, for the reception of so many goods, as well as to relieve the anxiety (Calmet) of the aged parents, and prevent surprise.
βAnd take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.β
And. Greek, βTake now in thy hand the gall of the fish. And they went on. And the dog followed close up to them; (Haydock; Syriac, βran before them.β Calmet) and Anna.β
βAnd when she espied him coming, she said to his father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with him.β
Cometh. Greek adds, βand the man who went with him.β
βThen said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes.β
To. Greek, βI know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes. Anoint, therefore, the gall upon his eyes, and feeling the smart, he will rub and remove the white specks, and shall see thee.β (Haydock) β God. This laudable custom was observed by the ancient solitaries, and prescribed by the rule of St. Benedict, chap. 53.
βThen Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said unto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my son, from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both.β
The dog, &c. This may seem a very minute circumstance to be recorded in sacred history; but, as we learn from our Saviour, (St. Matthew v. 18) there are iotas and tittles in the word of God, that is to say, things that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep mysterious meaning in them. (Challoner) β (Ven. Bede; St. Jerome in Isaias lvi. 8.; St. Augustine, contra Faust. xxii. 56.; Worthington) β The other versions relate this event, ver. 4.
βTobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him,β
And. After ver. 7., Greek adds, βand Anna running before, fell upon the neck of her son, and said to him, I have beheld thee, son; henceforth I may die. And they both wept. And Tobit went out towards the door, and he stumbled. But his son ran up to him, and took hold of his father, and spread the gall upon his fatherβs eyes, saying, Have confidence, father. But as soon as they began to smart, he rubbed his eyes, and the white specks came off like skins from the corners: and beholding his son, he fell upon his neck, and wept. Then he said,β ver. 17. (Haydock)
βAnd he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed are all thine holy angels:β
Hour. This is not in the other versions. (Calmet) β It would intimate that the operation was natural. (Menochius) β Yet some think that the cure was too instantaneous; (Drusius) or that the miracle consisted in the revelation of a remedy, till then unknown. (Serarius) β The effect seems to have been of the same nature as that produced by the heart, &c., chap. vi. 8. (Worthington; Calmet) β Estius believes that the optic nerve was entirely burnt. If the external coat of the eyes was only covered with a sort of skin, it might be removed by the gall of several fishes. (Calmet) β Callionymi fel cicatrices sanat & carnes oculorum supervacuas consumit. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxii 4. (Menochius)
βBut Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed her, saying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought thee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among all his brethren which were at Nineve.β
Lord. Greek, βBlessed be God, and blessed be thy name for ever, and blessed be all thy holy angels; because thou hast scourged, and hast shewn mercy, and,β &c.
βAnd Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother's son, came:β
Days. Or perhaps hours; (Haydock) as the other versions intimate that Sara arrived the same day. (Calmet) β Greek, βAnd his son entered, rejoicing, and related to his father the great things which had taken place in Media. And Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law, rejoicing, and blessing God, to the gate of Ninive. And those who saw him walking were astonished, because he saw. And Tobit confessed before them that God had taken pity on him. And as Tobit approached to Sarra, his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, Mayst thou come with safety, daughter. Blessed be God, who has brought thee to us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among all his brethren at Ninive. And,β ver. 20. (Haydock)
Achior. Greek, βAchiachar,β mentioned [in] chap. i. 24. This text insinuates that he was also styled Anael (Haydock) and Nasbas, and was the nephew of Tobit. (Grotius) (Calmet) β Greek, βAnd there came Achiachar, and Nasbas, his brotherβs son, and the wedding of Tobias was kept in joy for seven days.β (Haydock)
Joy. Old Vulgate adds, βand many presents were made to him.β