Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
TO'BIT (my goodness; contracted from goodness of Jehovah), the hero of the book named below.
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
TO'BIT, BOOK OF, one of the most interesting of the Apocrypha of the O.T., but devoid of historical value and plainly a romance. The story of Tobit may be thus given. He was a Naphtalite who remained faithful to the temple service amidst the defection of his countrymen, but, notwithstanding, he shared with them in their misfortunes and was carried to Nineveh by Shalmanezer. His wealth and his position at court gave him opportunity to help his
people and thus win their regard, and for a time his life was enviable. But a change of rulers changed his fortune. When Sennacherib came to the throne, he was compelled to flee from the king's wrath at his conduct in burying the Jews whom the king had killed. All his property was confiscated. But on the entreaty of a nephew, the new king, Esarhaddon, who succeeded Sennacherib, allowed him to return to Nineveh. Shortly thereafter he lost his
eyesight through the injury his opened eyes received from the warm swallows' dung which fell upon them, causing albugo - i.e., white, hard flakes on the eyes, which are of greater or less extent, and not transparent. A quarrel with his wife about a kid led to her reproaches, under which he wept grievously and in sorrow prayed. At this point the episode of Sarra, of Ecbatana in Media, is introduced. She was the wife of seven who were successively
killed on the wedding-night by Asmodaeus. Her prayer for death was made at the same time with Tobit's prayer for the same. "And Raphael was sent to heal them both" - that is, to scale away the white spots from Tobit's eyes - "and to give Sarra for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodaeus the wicked demon." This was thus brought about: Tobit sent his son to Media to recover some money lent in the days of his prosperity to one
Gabael. He improved the occasion to give his son much good advice. The angel Raphael, in the guise of "Azarias, son of Ananias the great," saluted Tobias and made the journey in his company. The capture of a fish put in Tobias' hands the means of curing his father and ridding Sarra of the demon. His journey was eminently successful. He recovered the money loaned, married Sarra, to whom Raphael introduced him, and returned home with these
treasures, greatly to the delight of Tobit, who had begun to be a little fearful for his safety. The book ends with the restoration of Tobit's eyesight and prosperity, his consequent psalm of gratitude, which is a worthy echo of the canonical Psalms and the best piece of writing in the book, and mention of the death of Tobit and Tobias. The above narrative is plainly far beneath the dignity of Scripture, and study of the book leads to the
discovery of many serious errors, not only historical, but moral, such as the meritoriousness of good works, a reliance upon angels, and a belief in demons. The book is indeed a romance, a good specimen of its class, but devoid of probability and in part based upon Job. The author of the book was undoubtedly a Jew, and probably one who lived in the far East. Critics are much divided in regard to the time of composition. Various dates, from b.c.
333 to a.d. 250, have been assigned to it, but it may perhaps with most reason be set down to the period near the close of the Maccabaean wars. TO'CHEN" (a measure), a place in Simeon, 1 Chr 4:32; not identified.