OET-RV TOB Introduction

Introduction

The account of Tovi (Tobit) follows two Jewish families living far from their ancestral land. Tovi has been taken from Yisrael/Israel to Nineveh, where he continues to obey God, share his food with the poor, and bury people who’ve been killed. But after losing his sight, he becomes so discouraged that he asks God to let him die. Meanwhile, Sarah, a young woman living in Maday (Media), is also desperate: a demon has killed all seven of the men she’d married.

God hears their prayers, and their stories come together when Tovi sends his son Toviyah (Tobias) to collect some money that he’d left with a relative. Toviyah’s travelling companion, Refael (Raphael), turns out to be a messenger sent by God. The journey leads to marriage, healing, and a new future for both families.

This account encourages its readers to remain faithful to God in difficult circumstances. It gives particular attention to prayer, generosity, care for parents, and faithfulness within a family. God’s help isn’t always recognised immediately, but the characters eventually look back and see how he has been guiding them.

Tovi is recognised as deuterocanonical scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches.

This is still an early look into the unpolished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.