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The Book of Tobit
The book of Tobit is said to have been written around 225 BC, and the story set around 700 BC. It tells the tale of Tobit, an Israelite who had suffered blindness. His son, Tobias, wished to marry Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, but 7 of her previous suitors had been slain by the demon Asmodeus. Through the intercession of the angel Raphael, the demon is driven away, and Tobit is healed. This edition also contains additional information on Raphael and Asmodeus, art and illustrations of the story over the centuries, and the editors own experience with these spirits.
111 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 2, 2025
In my journey of reading religious texts, I've begun reading the deuterocanonical books (accepted by Catholic and Orthodox traditions but rejected by Reformists). The Book of Tobit was interesting to me, as we really dive into the importance of almsgiving, piety and persistance of faith.
I note that Sarah's situation (given to marriage to seven men, who died due to Asmodeus, the demon of lust) appears to actually be referred to in Matthew 23, when Jesus is questioned by the Saduccees.
I can see why it was removed from the Protestant Canon, as it advocates for a works-based form of salvation that contradicts a literal understanding of "justification by faith, and faith alone".
Also, appreciated the more personal depiction of the Archangel Raphael (angel of healing, guidance and protection).
I note that Sarah's situation (given to marriage to seven men, who died due to Asmodeus, the demon of lust) appears to actually be referred to in Matthew 23, when Jesus is questioned by the Saduccees.
I can see why it was removed from the Protestant Canon, as it advocates for a works-based form of salvation that contradicts a literal understanding of "justification by faith, and faith alone".
Also, appreciated the more personal depiction of the Archangel Raphael (angel of healing, guidance and protection).
Read
July 14, 2023I have been interested in the 7 books the Catholic church keeps in their Bible that are not in the Protestant Bible. These are all books which were written in-between the time period of the Old Testament and the New Testament, and that is one reason why they are not considered canon by Protestants, because scripture says "there were no more prophets in those times" which means none of the books would have been God-breathed scripture. However, these are still significant books and do help people understand both what went on during that time period and more things that are referenced in the New Testament, as people in that time period also knew of and used these books.
This is an interesting and weird book, and it feels a lot like one of the Grimm fairy tales. But it is interesting in that it talks about an evil spirit killing 7 men before they can consummate a marriage with a woman, and she is considering suicide because of it, and the Lord hears her prayer and binds the evil spirit and finds her a godly man in her family to marry "not for lust, but in truth." I thought that was neat.
The main thing about this book that makes it understandable that it's not in the canon is that a good angel lies about his identity--which is a big red flag. And then there's a fish that has parts of it that are used to ward off the evil spirit, which sounds a bit like a witchcraft ritual or superstition.
But I do recommend this book to people who are interested in reading more books from the time period of the Bible even if they are not specifically in the canon but are still significant books. This is still a work of literature.
Not giving this one a star rating because it feels strange to give it a star rating.
This is an interesting and weird book, and it feels a lot like one of the Grimm fairy tales. But it is interesting in that it talks about an evil spirit killing 7 men before they can consummate a marriage with a woman, and she is considering suicide because of it, and the Lord hears her prayer and binds the evil spirit and finds her a godly man in her family to marry "not for lust, but in truth." I thought that was neat.
The main thing about this book that makes it understandable that it's not in the canon is that a good angel lies about his identity--which is a big red flag. And then there's a fish that has parts of it that are used to ward off the evil spirit, which sounds a bit like a witchcraft ritual or superstition.
But I do recommend this book to people who are interested in reading more books from the time period of the Bible even if they are not specifically in the canon but are still significant books. This is still a work of literature.
Not giving this one a star rating because it feels strange to give it a star rating.
October 19, 2023
🇪🇸 / 🏴 below
Vaya, vaya, vaya… ¡Menuda ✨fantasía ✨ de libro!
Entre sus puntos fuertes destacan:
—La calidad: como ya es habitual entre los libros veterotestamentarios, no decepciona, pues además de entretenido es bello y está muy bien escrito. Nada que ver con la calidad literaria barata y facilona del Nuevo Testamento…
—La ambientación: la acción del libro ocurre por la antigua Asiria y cercanías, durante los reinados de figuras históricas tan relevantes como los Reyes del Universo™ Salmanazar, Senaquerib y por supuesto nuestro gigachad Asarhaddón, el creador del ✨Pacto✨ que todos conocemos y amamos. Como el contexto histórico es impecable, no cabe duda de que las acciones narradas han de ser otrosí verídicas. ¿Y a quien no va a gustarle un Imperio Asirio del siglo -VII? ¿A quién no va a gustarle?
—El DRAMA: ni en Wattpad se ve lo que pasa aquí. Los personajes son los emos más agoreros y dramáticos que uno jamás haya leído. ¡Por cualquier cosa ya piensan en suicidarse!
—Los caminos del Señor son inescrutables: y ninguna escritura como esta para probarlo. Al Tobit unos pájaros se le cagan en los ojos… Osea, ḥelow??? (!)
—Educativo ante todo: ¿Estás cansado de que un demonio te mate todos los novios antes de poder tener sexo? Se acabaron los problemas: el ángel Rafael nos trae en persona los superconsejitos definitivos para exorcizarlo y, como bonus, para curar la ceguera. Por cierto, ¿sabías que, si 2 personas rezan sincronizadas en cualquier parte del mundo pidiendo morirse, sus oraciones se conectan y Dios crea un plan conjunto para solucionarles la vida a ambos?
—Ironía dramática: habría sido muy fácil que el autor nos hubiese dado un final sorpresa al revelar la verdadera identidad del ángel Rafael, y yo casi lo hubiera preferido. Sin embargo, Tobit nos recuerda que la ironía dramática también puede ser una solución elegante que funciona bien. Él no necesita engañar ni choquear al lector para contar una historia atrapante y sorprendente. Y, aún así, esta revelación sí que trae consigo un par de datos que el lector no conocía de antes pero que son claves para entender cómo Dios estuvo realizando Su obra para con los personajes desde el principio.
—Ángeles y demonios: son estupendos ¡y pelean entre ellos! 😈
—Amor prohibido: aparentemente, el Dios del Antiguo Testamento no solo aprobaba sino que abogaba por el incesto. Y si a Tobías no le hacía mucha gracia eso de casarse con Sara la matanovios por la recomendación sin venir a cuento de un man que recién había conocido, al oír las palabras mágicas «ella es tu pariente más cercana: nadie tiene más derecho que tú a desposarla»… Ah, ahí todo cambia ¡y se enamora de oídas al instante!
Los puntos débiles:
—Suspende en feminismo: A todo esto, Sara no tiene ni voz ni voto, pero gracias a Dios eso tampoco es problema: ella ya se conforma con casarse con cualquier hombre que no se le muera en la cama.
—Narrador cambiante: el libro comienza narrado en 1ª persona por Tobit, pero luego de repente cambia a 3ª persona sin motivo aparente… y a mitad de un mismo capítulo. Es probablemente lo único reprochable en su estilo.
—Inclusión forzada: literalmente todos los personajes humanos del libro son inmigrantes judíos víctimas del tráfico de personas, es decir, una minoría. Eso no representa bien la sociedad multiétnica de Nínive y Media, cuyos habitantes eran mayoritariamente asirios y medos. Una vez más el Espíritu Santo nos fuerza Su agenda visibilizando Su pueblo favorito, aunque afortunadamente esto se rectifica más tarde en el Nuevo Testamento. A pesar de todo, ya en este libro se previsualizan indicios de Su plan para evangelizar a los gentiles.
______
Wow, my my my… What a ✨phantasy✨ of book!
Among its strengths:
—The quality: as already usual among the veterotestamentary books, it doesn't disappoint, because in addition to entertaining it's beautiful and very well written. Nothing like the New Testament's cheap and slapdash literary quality…
—The setting: the book's action occurs by former Assyria and surroundings, during the reigns of such relevant historical figures as the Kings of the Universe™ Shalmaneser, Sennacherib and of course our gigachad Essarhaddon, creator of the ✨Covenant✨ we all know and love. Since the historical context is impeccable, there’s no doubt that the narrated actions must be eke veridical. And who’s not gonna like an Assyrian Empire of the -VIIᵗʰ century? Who’s not gonna like it?
—The DRAMA: not even in Wattpad appears what happens here. The characters are the most emo and dramatic doomsayers one ever read. Due to anything they already think about suiciding!
—The Lord's ways are inscrutable: and no writing like this to prove it. To mister Tobit, some birds shit in his eyes… like, aloha??? (!)
—Educative first of all: Are you tired of demons killing all your lovers before you can have sex? The problems are over: angel Raphaël itself brings us the definitive superadvicelets to exorcize it and, as a bonus, to cure blindness. By the way, did you know that if 2 persons pray synchronized anywhere in the world asking to die their prayers connect and God creates a joint plan to solve both their lives?
—Dramatic irony: It would’ve been very easy for the author to have given us a plottwist by revealing the true identity of the Raphaël angel, and I’d almost have preferred it. However, Tobit reminds us that dramatic irony can also be an elegant well-working solution. He doesn't need cheating or shocking the reader to tell a captivating and surprising story. And, yet, this revelation does bring a couple of info that the reader unknowed before but that is key for understanding how God was doing his work on the characters from the beginning.
—Angels and demons: They are great and fight each other! 😈
—Forbidden love: Apparently, the Old Testament God not only approved but advocated for incest. And if Tobias wasn't vibing about marrying Sara the Boyfriend Slayer for sake of the totally random recommendation of a man he had just met, as he heard the magical words “she is your closest relative: nobody has more right than you to marry her”… Ah, there everything changes, and he immediately falls in love from hearsay!
The weak points:
—Flunked in feminism: anyhow, Sara has neither voice nor vote, but thank God that is no problem either: she’s already content with marrying any man who doesn't die in her bed.
—Changing storyteller: The book begins narrated in 1ˢᵗ person by Tobit, but then suddenly changes to 3ʳᵈ person without apparent reason… and by the half of a same chapter. It’s probably the only reprovable in its style.
—Forced inclusion: Literally all the human characters are Jewish immigrant victims of human trafficking, that is, a minority. That missrepresents the multi-ethnic Society of Nineveh and Media, whose inhabitants were mostly Assyrians and Medes. Once again the Holy Ghost forces us Its agenda highlighting Its favorite people, although fortunately this is later rectified in the New Testament. In spite of this, inklings of Its plan to evangelize the Gentiles are already previewed in this book.
Vaya, vaya, vaya… ¡Menuda ✨fantasía ✨ de libro!
Entre sus puntos fuertes destacan:
—La calidad: como ya es habitual entre los libros veterotestamentarios, no decepciona, pues además de entretenido es bello y está muy bien escrito. Nada que ver con la calidad literaria barata y facilona del Nuevo Testamento…
—La ambientación: la acción del libro ocurre por la antigua Asiria y cercanías, durante los reinados de figuras históricas tan relevantes como los Reyes del Universo™ Salmanazar, Senaquerib y por supuesto nuestro gigachad Asarhaddón, el creador del ✨Pacto✨ que todos conocemos y amamos. Como el contexto histórico es impecable, no cabe duda de que las acciones narradas han de ser otrosí verídicas. ¿Y a quien no va a gustarle un Imperio Asirio del siglo -VII? ¿A quién no va a gustarle?
—El DRAMA: ni en Wattpad se ve lo que pasa aquí. Los personajes son los emos más agoreros y dramáticos que uno jamás haya leído. ¡Por cualquier cosa ya piensan en suicidarse!
—Los caminos del Señor son inescrutables: y ninguna escritura como esta para probarlo. Al Tobit unos pájaros se le cagan en los ojos… Osea, ḥelow??? (!)
—Educativo ante todo: ¿Estás cansado de que un demonio te mate todos los novios antes de poder tener sexo? Se acabaron los problemas: el ángel Rafael nos trae en persona los superconsejitos definitivos para exorcizarlo y, como bonus, para curar la ceguera. Por cierto, ¿sabías que, si 2 personas rezan sincronizadas en cualquier parte del mundo pidiendo morirse, sus oraciones se conectan y Dios crea un plan conjunto para solucionarles la vida a ambos?
—Ironía dramática: habría sido muy fácil que el autor nos hubiese dado un final sorpresa al revelar la verdadera identidad del ángel Rafael, y yo casi lo hubiera preferido. Sin embargo, Tobit nos recuerda que la ironía dramática también puede ser una solución elegante que funciona bien. Él no necesita engañar ni choquear al lector para contar una historia atrapante y sorprendente. Y, aún así, esta revelación sí que trae consigo un par de datos que el lector no conocía de antes pero que son claves para entender cómo Dios estuvo realizando Su obra para con los personajes desde el principio.
—Ángeles y demonios: son estupendos ¡y pelean entre ellos! 😈
—Amor prohibido: aparentemente, el Dios del Antiguo Testamento no solo aprobaba sino que abogaba por el incesto. Y si a Tobías no le hacía mucha gracia eso de casarse con Sara la matanovios por la recomendación sin venir a cuento de un man que recién había conocido, al oír las palabras mágicas «ella es tu pariente más cercana: nadie tiene más derecho que tú a desposarla»… Ah, ahí todo cambia ¡y se enamora de oídas al instante!
Los puntos débiles:
—Suspende en feminismo: A todo esto, Sara no tiene ni voz ni voto, pero gracias a Dios eso tampoco es problema: ella ya se conforma con casarse con cualquier hombre que no se le muera en la cama.
—Narrador cambiante: el libro comienza narrado en 1ª persona por Tobit, pero luego de repente cambia a 3ª persona sin motivo aparente… y a mitad de un mismo capítulo. Es probablemente lo único reprochable en su estilo.
—Inclusión forzada: literalmente todos los personajes humanos del libro son inmigrantes judíos víctimas del tráfico de personas, es decir, una minoría. Eso no representa bien la sociedad multiétnica de Nínive y Media, cuyos habitantes eran mayoritariamente asirios y medos. Una vez más el Espíritu Santo nos fuerza Su agenda visibilizando Su pueblo favorito, aunque afortunadamente esto se rectifica más tarde en el Nuevo Testamento. A pesar de todo, ya en este libro se previsualizan indicios de Su plan para evangelizar a los gentiles.
______
Wow, my my my… What a ✨phantasy✨ of book!
Among its strengths:
—The quality: as already usual among the veterotestamentary books, it doesn't disappoint, because in addition to entertaining it's beautiful and very well written. Nothing like the New Testament's cheap and slapdash literary quality…
—The setting: the book's action occurs by former Assyria and surroundings, during the reigns of such relevant historical figures as the Kings of the Universe™ Shalmaneser, Sennacherib and of course our gigachad Essarhaddon, creator of the ✨Covenant✨ we all know and love. Since the historical context is impeccable, there’s no doubt that the narrated actions must be eke veridical. And who’s not gonna like an Assyrian Empire of the -VIIᵗʰ century? Who’s not gonna like it?
—The DRAMA: not even in Wattpad appears what happens here. The characters are the most emo and dramatic doomsayers one ever read. Due to anything they already think about suiciding!
—The Lord's ways are inscrutable: and no writing like this to prove it. To mister Tobit, some birds shit in his eyes… like, aloha??? (!)
—Educative first of all: Are you tired of demons killing all your lovers before you can have sex? The problems are over: angel Raphaël itself brings us the definitive superadvicelets to exorcize it and, as a bonus, to cure blindness. By the way, did you know that if 2 persons pray synchronized anywhere in the world asking to die their prayers connect and God creates a joint plan to solve both their lives?
—Dramatic irony: It would’ve been very easy for the author to have given us a plottwist by revealing the true identity of the Raphaël angel, and I’d almost have preferred it. However, Tobit reminds us that dramatic irony can also be an elegant well-working solution. He doesn't need cheating or shocking the reader to tell a captivating and surprising story. And, yet, this revelation does bring a couple of info that the reader unknowed before but that is key for understanding how God was doing his work on the characters from the beginning.
—Angels and demons: They are great and fight each other! 😈
—Forbidden love: Apparently, the Old Testament God not only approved but advocated for incest. And if Tobias wasn't vibing about marrying Sara the Boyfriend Slayer for sake of the totally random recommendation of a man he had just met, as he heard the magical words “she is your closest relative: nobody has more right than you to marry her”… Ah, there everything changes, and he immediately falls in love from hearsay!
The weak points:
—Flunked in feminism: anyhow, Sara has neither voice nor vote, but thank God that is no problem either: she’s already content with marrying any man who doesn't die in her bed.
—Changing storyteller: The book begins narrated in 1ˢᵗ person by Tobit, but then suddenly changes to 3ʳᵈ person without apparent reason… and by the half of a same chapter. It’s probably the only reprovable in its style.
—Forced inclusion: Literally all the human characters are Jewish immigrant victims of human trafficking, that is, a minority. That missrepresents the multi-ethnic Society of Nineveh and Media, whose inhabitants were mostly Assyrians and Medes. Once again the Holy Ghost forces us Its agenda highlighting Its favorite people, although fortunately this is later rectified in the New Testament. In spite of this, inklings of Its plan to evangelize the Gentiles are already previewed in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2023
It reads very smoothly, even smoother than most Old Testament books. A well-structured story. It gives high praises to almsgiving; it actually has been quoted by an early church father (Polycarp) to show the value of almsgiving. Very interesting indeed
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