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Tobias 1
Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is
in the upper parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond
the way that leadeth to the west, having on the right
hand the city of Sephet,)
When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king
of the Assyrians, even in his captivity, forsook not
the way of truth,
But every day gave all he could get to his brethren
his fellow captives, that were of his kindred.
And when he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali,
yet did he no childish thing in his work.
Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam
king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company of
all,
And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and
there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully
all his firstfruits, and his tithes,
So that in the third year he gave all his tithes to
the proselytes, and strangers.
These and such like things did he observe when but a
boy according to the law of God.
But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own
tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his
own name,
And from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and
to abstain from all sin.
And when by the captivity he with his wife and his son
and all his tribe was come to the city of Ninive,
(When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept
his soul and never was defiled with their meats.
And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his
heart, God gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar
the king.
And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would,
with liberty to do whatever he had a mind.
He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and
gave them wholesome admonitions.
And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes, and
had ten talents of silver of that with which he had
been honoured by the king:
And when amongst a great multitude of his kindred, he
saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking
a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of
money.
But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead,
when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place,
had a hatred for the children of Israel:
Tobias daily went among all his kindred, and comforted
them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out
of his goods:
He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and
was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from
Judea by reason of the slaughter that God had made about
him for his blasphemy, and being angry slew many of
the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.
But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be
slain, and took away all his substance.
But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with
his wife, lay concealed, for many loved him.
But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his
own sons.
And Tobias returned to his house, and all his substance
was restored to him.
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