Tobit — Chapter 10

HEU HEU ME FILI MI UT QUID TE MISIMUS PEREGRINARI LUMEN OCULORUM NOSTRORUM — Anna's lament over Tobias's delay: 'You are the light of our eyes' (her husband was blind, she herself was growing dim with age, so their son served as their eyes for all that needed seeing and doing); 'staff of our old age' (as Scipio Africanus received his name scipio = staff, for supporting his aged blind father like a staff and guiding his steps); 'consolation of our life' (sons console their parents' old age and its miseries); 'hope of all our posterity' (he was their only son; all hopes for the family line depended on him).

TRADIDIT EI SARAM ET DIMIDIAM PARTEM OMNIS SUBSTANTIAE SUAE — Raguel gave Tobias half of all his property: slaves, cattle, camels, cows, and much silver, plus (the Hebrew adds) linen and precious garments and vessels of silver and gold. The Greek says 'bodies, cattle, and money'; 'bodies' = slaves, who lacking freedom are as it were mere bodies in their master's service. Raguel compiled a formal deed of gift for the transfer of property.

ANGELUS DOMINI SANCTUS SIT IN ITINERE VESTRO PERDUCATQUE VOS INCOLUMES — Raguel's farewell blessing reveals that he (like Gabael in ch. 9) held the ancient belief of the Hebrews that God assigns guardian angels to accompany and direct men on their journeys.

MONENTES EAM HONORARE SOCEROS DILIGERE MARITUM REGERE FAMILIAM GUBERNARE DOMUM ET SEIPSAM IRREPREHENSIBILEM EXHIBERE — Raguel and Anna give Sara five counsels on her departure: (1) Honor your in-laws as parents; the Greek adds 'for they are now your parents.' (2) Love your husband, for you are now one flesh and one person — this love enables the wife to overcome her husband's differing temperament, faults, misfortunes, and all the adversities of married life; Monica's advice to wives (Augustine, Conf. IX.9): 'count yourselves the servants of your husbands since marriage has made you so.' (3) Govern the household — keep children, servants, and maids in duty, harmony, peace, and charity. (4) Rule the home — stay in it rather than wandering about, provide meals, manage stores, clothing, and necessities, as the strong woman praised by Solomon (Prov. 31). (5) Be irreproachable — not only in conjugal fidelity and chastity but in restraint of tongue, justice, prudence, and courtesy with both household and outsiders. Paul (Tit. 2:4-5) and Peter (1 Pet. 3) give similar commands. The Greek adds the farewell of Edna (Anna) to Tobias commending Sara to his care 'as a deposit' and beseeching him not to afflict her.