What does Tobias Chapter 14 record?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The account gives the father’s ages at blindness, recovery and death as fifty-six, sixty and a hundred and two. The father tells his descendants to practice justice and alms and depart after their mother’s burial. The son later returns to his parents-in-law, cares for them, inherits Raguel’s house and dies at ninety-nine.

Chapter breakdown

After concluding his canticle of praise, the elder Tobias enjoyed a long and peaceful life in Nineve. Following the restoration of his eyesight, he lived an additional forty-two years, having the joy of seeing his great-grandchildren. In total, he reached the age of one hundred and two years before being buried with great honor in Nineve. He had been fifty-six years old when the misfortune of blindness struck him, and sixty when his sight was miraculously restored. The remainder of his earthly days passed in joy, and growing continuously in the holy fear of God, he departed this life in peace.

At the hour of his death, Tobias summoned his son along with his seven grandsons and delivered his final prophetic admonitions. He warned them that the imminent destruction of Nineve was at hand, for the word of the Lord had to be fulfilled. He foretold that the exiled brethren scattered abroad would return to the land of Israel, the desolate countryside would once again be filled with inhabitants, and the burnt house of God would be rebuilt in glory. Gentiles would cast away their idols, journey to Jerusalem to dwell therein, and all earthly monarchs would rejoice while adoring the King of Israel. Tobias commanded his children and descendants to serve God in truth, perform justice and generous almsgiving, and bless the Lord with all their strength. He charged them strictly not to remain in Nineve after his death, instructing them to depart without delay as soon as they had buried their mother beside him in his tomb, because the iniquity of the city would inevitably bring about its ruin.

Following the death and burial of his mother, the younger Tobias gathered his wife, children, and grandchildren and departed from Nineve, traveling to Media to rejoin his parents-in-law, his father-in-law and mother-in-law. He found them in sound health in their advanced old age, cared for them dutifully in their declining years, and closed their eyes when they died. Tobias inherited the entire estate of Raguel's household, saw his children’s children to the fifth generation. Having lived ninety-nine years in steadfast reverence for the Lord, he was buried with great joy by his family. His descendants and all his kindred persevered in righteous conduct and holy conversation, remaining pleasing both to God and to their fellow men across the land.

The story inside

Context and action: The account gives the father’s ages at blindness, recovery and death as fifty-six, sixty and a hundred and two. Response: The father tells his descendants to practice justice and alms and depart after their mother’s burial. Recorded continuation: The son later returns to his parents-in-law, cares for them, inherits Raguel’s house and dies at ninety-nine.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The account gives the father’s ages at blindness, recovery and death as fifty-six, sixty and a hundred and two.
2
The father tells his descendants to practice justice and alms and depart after their mother’s burial.
3
The son later returns to his parents-in-law, cares for them, inherits Raguel’s house and dies at ninety-nine.

Test your recall

What sequence did the father prescribe before the family’s departure?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 51565–51572
And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he was buried honorably in Ninive. 14:3. For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again. 14:4. And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of the fear of God he departed in peace.
Lines 51577–51583
The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the land of Israel, shall return to it. 14:7. And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be rebuilt
Lines 51598–51606
And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct your steps to depart hence: 14:13. For I see that its iniquity will bring it to destruction. 14:14. And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children’s children, and returned to his father and mother in law.