“Then I being grieved did weep, and in my sorrow prayed, saying,”
Then, retiring, ver. 25. — Tears. He manifests no degree of impatience. (Calmet)
“O Lord, thou art just, and all thy works and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou judgest truly and justly for ever.”
Judgment. Even in punishing, God remembers mercy, (Haydock) and never fails to perform what he has promised.
“Remember me, and look on me, punish me not for my sins and ignorances, and the sins of my fathers, who have sinned before thee:”
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)
“Now therefore deal with me as seemeth best unto thee, and command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved, and become earth: for it is profitable for me to die rather than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and have much sorrow: command therefore that I may now be delivered out of this distress, and go into the everlasting place: turn not thy face away from me.”
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)
“It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media Sara the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father's maids;”
Rages. In the Greek it is Ecbatana which was also called Rages. For there were two cities in Media of the 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. (Diod. Bib. 19.) — It may here denote the province. (Worthington)
“Because that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou not know, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.”
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.
“Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be dead, go thy ways after them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter.”
Murder. Greek, “Dost thou not understand that thou hast suffocated thy husbands. Thou hast already had seven husbands, and hast 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)
“Whe she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she thought to have strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I shall bring his old age with sorrow unto the grave.”
At. Greek And Hebrew, “Hearing these things she was much grieved, so as to be unable to breath; (Haydock; 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 of 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)
“And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear no more the reproach.”
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)
“And that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, neither hath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands are already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach.”
Earth. Holy men have thus desired to die, as was the case with Moses, Elias, Job, and St. Paul provided God was willing. (Menochius)
“So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the great God.”
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 an only child, ” &c. (Haydock) — Lust: a very high encomium; which Sara mentions without vanity, placing her confidence in God. (Menochius) (Proverbs xx. 9.)
“And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.”
Play, lasciviously, (Menochius) or dance. (Hugo.) (Exodus xxxii. 1.)
Crowned. James i. 12. — Delivered from falling, (Menochius) and in due time from affliction. (Haydock)
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)