When. Greek and Hebrew and the old Vulgate, (Calmet) "That very day Tobit remembered the money which he had deposited with Gabael....and said within himself, I begged for death; why do I not call Tobias, my son that I may declare it to him before I die? And calling him, he said: Son, if I die, bury me, and despise not thy mother." (Haydock) --- He gives him fourteen instructions, in imitation of Moses and David, 3 Kings ii. (Worthington)

Verse 3

Life. St. Augustine (Conf. x. 34) cries out, "O Light, which Tobias had in view, when these corporal eyes being closed, he taught his son the way of life."

Verse 5

By me. Greek adds, "in the same sepulchre," like the patriarchs. Pope Leo decreed: statuimus unumquemque in sepulchro suorum majorum jacere.

Verse 7

Substance. Be not liberal of another’s property. Greek adds, "and let not thy eye be envious, when thou givest alms." Do it generously. (Calmet) --- The same doctrine of the reward of good works, occurs [in] Daniel iv. 24. (Worthington)

Verse 9

Little. God regards the affections more than the gift. (Calmet)

Verse 11

Sin, provided faith, &c., be not wanting. (Menochius) --- When the Scripture seems to attribute salvation to one virtue, to faith, repentance, &c., it always presupposes that the heart is free from all mortal guilt. (Haydock) --- Alms deeds may procure a fresh supply of graces. (Menochius) --- Darkness, or hell, which is thus represented, Matthew viii. 12., and xxii. 13., and Ephesians vi. 12.

Verse 12

Give it, with true charity, 1 Corinthians xiii. 3. (Calmet)

Verse 13

Crime, or any commerce with another. (Haydock) --- Greek and Hebrew add, conformable to the law, (Exodus xxxiv. 16.) "And take not a strange woman, who may not be of thy father's tribe, as we are the sons of the prophets, Noe, &c. ....All these married from among their brethren, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land." (Haydock)

Verse 14

Perdition of the angels, of Adam, &c. (Calmet) (Genesis iii. 5.) (Menochius)

Verse 15

At all, after sunset, Deuteronomy xxiv. 14.

Verse 16

Another. Behold the grand maxim of fraternal charity, Matthew viii. 12. Alex. Severus was so much pleased with it, that he had it often repeated by a herald, and inscribed on public edifices. What thou wouldst not have done to thee, do not thou to another. (Lamprid.) --- Greek and Hebrew add a caution against drunkenness and drunken companions. Fagius has another against revenge; and the old Vulgate, "give not way to wickedness."

Verse 17

Eat. Greek, "give." --- Naked. Greek adds, "give in alms all thy superfluities, And let not thy eye repine," &c., as ver. 7. (Haydock)

Verse 18

Burial, or sepulchre. See Baruch vi. 26.; Ecclesiasticus vii. 37., and xxx. 18. The Jews followed this custom, which was common to the pagans, but from very different motives. The latter supposed that the souls fed on such meats. The Jews, and afterwards Christians, did it to feed the indigent, that they might pray for the deceased. These feasts were sometimes abused, and on that account forbidden by St. Ambrose, to whose authority St. Monica submitted. (St. Augustine, Confessions vi. 3.) See Constitutions Apostolic viii. 24. (Calmet) --- Just man, who may be supposed to have died in God's peace. (Haydock) --- It is of no service to pray and give alms for the damned. --- Wicked, so as to encourage their evil conduct. (Menochius) --- Works of mercy extend to the dead. (Worthington)

Verse 20

Abide. Greek, "prosper," (Menochius) or "be directed. For every nation has not counsel: but this same Lord bestows all good things. And whensoever he will, he humbles, as he pleases. And now, my son, remember my commands, and let them not be effaced from thy heart. Now, also, I make known unto thee the ten talents of silver, which I deposited with Gabael," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 21

And I. The Greek, &c., take no notice of this, (Calmet) nor of the following verse. (Haydock) --- The virtuous dispose of their temporal effects by will, &c. (Worthington)

Verse 23

We lead. Greek, "if we grow poor. Thou hast much if thou fear,"&c.

Verse 25