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1This is the story of Tobit son of Tobiel, son of Hananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael. He belonged to the family of Asiel of the tribe of Naphtali.[#1:1 Some manuscripts add son of Raphael, son of Raguel.]
2During the reign of Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, Tobit was taken into captivity from Thisbe, which is south of Kedesh Naphtali in Upper Galilee, above Asher toward the west, and north of Phogor.[#1:2 Or Hazor.]
3I, Tobit, have tried to live a life of truth and justice. I performed many goods deeds not only for my relatives but also for other captives who were with me in the city of Nineveh in Assyria.
4When I was a young man in my own country of Israel, the entire tribe of my ancestor Naphtali deserted the king who sat on the throne of David. They also deserted Jerusalem, the city where the Temple, God’s dwelling place, was built and dedicated as a holy place for all generations forever. All the tribes of Israel had been instructed to offer their sacrifices in Jerusalem.
5Instead, my relatives and the entire tribe of Naphtali offered sacrifices on all the mountains of Galilee to the calf that King Jeroboam of Israel had made in Dan.
6So I alone went to Jerusalem for the frequent festivals, as all Israel was commanded to do. I would bring with me the first crops of the harvest, the firstborn of my flocks, the first wool from the sheep, and a tenth of my income.[#1:6 Greek the tithes of the cattle.]
7I would give these to the priests, Aaron’s descendants, as a sacrifice. In addition, I would give tithes of grain, wine, olive oil, pomegranates, figs, and other fruits to the Levites who were on duty in Jerusalem. Also, I would save a second tithe for six years and would distribute it in Jerusalem.
8Then every third year I would give a third tithe to orphans, widows, and those who had converted to Judaism, and we would eat a feast as required by the law of Moses. We also followed the instructions given by my father’s mother, Deborah, who raised me after my father, Tobiel, died and left me an orphan.[#1:8 As in Latin Vulgate; Greek reads Hananiel.]
9When I came of age, I married Anna, a relative of mine, and we had a son, whom I named Tobiah.
10After I was taken captive to Nineveh in Assyria, all my relatives and people ate Gentile food,
11but I refused to eat any such food.
12And because I obeyed God with all my heart,
13the Most High brought me to the attention of King Shalmaneser, who made me his purchasing agent.
14As long as the king lived, I went frequently to Media to buy supplies. One time I left 750 pounds of silver in the care of my relative Gabael, the brother of Gabri.[#1:14a Media was the northwestern part of present-day Iran.; #1:14b Greek 10 talents [340 kilograms].]
15When Shalmaneser died and his son Sennacherib became king, the roads to Media were difficult to travel.
16During the reign of Shalmaneser, I was able to do many good deeds for my relatives and my people.
17I shared my food with the hungry and clothed the naked. Whenever I saw the dead body of one of my people thrown outside the walls of Nineveh, I would bury it.
18One time Sennacherib had to retreat from Judea because the King of heaven was punishing him for speaking blasphemous things. In his anger Sennacherib put to death many of the captives from Judea, but I stole the bodies and buried them secretly. When Sennacherib looked for the bodies, he could not find them.
19One day someone from Nineveh told the king what I was doing. When I realized that the king knew all about me and wanted to put me to death, I became afraid and fled for my life.
20All my property was taken from me and put in the royal treasury. All that was left to me was my wife, Anna, and my son, Tobiah.
21But less than forty days later the king was murdered by two of his sons, who escaped into the mountains of Ararat. He was succeeded by his son Esarhaddon, who appointed my nephew Ahikar (my brother Hanael’s son) to be his chief accountant and administrator.[#1:21 Ahikar is a Jewish wise man in other ancient literature.]
22Ahikar put in a good word for me, and I was able to return to Nineveh. (Ahikar had been Sennacherib’s chief cup-bearer, guardian of the king’s seal, administrator, and treasurer. When Esarhaddon became king, he reappointed Ahikar to office. As I said, Ahikar was my nephew, and so he was a close relative.)