Books Jesus Read

110

Books Jesus Read

Tobit’s Holy Lifestyle is Tested Now after we were exiled to Nineveh, all my clan began living like the pagan Gentiles. As for me, I strictly avoided their ways because I remembered God with all my heart. Then the Most High gave me favor and good appearance in the sight of the king, and he installed me as his buyer of provisions. I once traveled on business to Media, where I left ten talents of silver on deposit with my associate Gabiel, who wrote me a receipt which we tore into matching halves. After King Shalmaneser died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place. Sennacherib persecuted my fellow Jews, and for as long as he reigned the roads to Media were unsafe since they were no longer being guarded. Because of this I was unable to travel there to check on the money I had entrusted to Gabiel. I, Tobit, did my best to live a life of righteousness under wicked Sennacherib’s rule. I would retrieve the bodies of my fellow Jews murdered by the king and give them an honorable burial. When it was reported to Sennacherib that I was the one doing this, he sought to kill me. So, I went into hiding to keep my family from the danger that was coming after me. The king took my property but left Anna and Tobias unharmed. 5 As it happened, the king was assassinated by his own sons less than two months after taking power. Then, his older son, Esarhaddon, ruled in his place and ruled righteously. Esarhaddon commanded the son of my brother, Hanael, to manage the affairs of his kingdom. Formerly, he had served

5 Compare Tobit’s practice to Jesus’ words in Matt 8:21–22; Luke 9:59; 16:22.