The Wisdom Instructions in the Book of Tobit (Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies, 12)

Despite the resurgence of scholarly interest in the Book of Tobit in recent years, an important aspect of this deuterocanonical book has been largely overlooked. Within it, there is an instruction manual for an effective way of being and living in exile, namely the wisdom instructions in Tobit 4. With glances at Tobit 12 and Tobit 14 where the wisdom instructions are repeated in shorter form, this monograph discusses the function of the wisdom discourse in the literary design of the narrative. Moreover, it examines how the wisdom instructions of Tobit demonstrate the vital role of the sapiential tradition in forming and maintaining Jewish identity in the Diaspora. Contextualizing the wisdom instructions not only within the narrative but also within the realities of Second Temple Judaism, it is argued that the author of Tobit saw the validity and employed the resources of the Jewish wisdom tradition in reinterpreting some of the traditional claims of covenant faith. Using the Sinaiticus as the textual basis of study, it shows that the lengthy wisdom lecture of Tobit displays an inner logic that structures the collection of seemingly unrelated sayings. The instructions reinterpret a major deuteronomic concern to remember the Lord always. For Tobit, the practice of righteousness, the practice of wise behavior, and the practice of prayer realize and concretize such remembrance. Addressed to those in the Dispersion, Tobit’s wisdom instructions are meant to foster and shape a distinct ethos of truth, righteousness and mercy. Preface 5 Acknowledgments 7 Abbreviations 13 Table of Contents 9 Introduction 19 Chapter 1: The Integrity of the Book of Tobit 25 1.1 Indications of Redaction 26 1.1.1 Tobit 13 and 14 26 1.1.2 The References to Ahiqar 28 1.1.3 The Shift in Narrative Point of View 30 1.1.4 The Textual Traditions of Tobit 31 1.1.4.1 The Priority of GII 32 1.1.4.2 The Semitic Language of Tobit 34 1.2 Diachronic Analyses of Tobit 36 1.2.1 Józef T. Milik 37 1.2.2 Paul Deselaers 38 1.2.3 Merten Rabenau 39 1.2.4 Critical Problems with Diachronic Analysis 41 1.3 Indications of Narrative Integrity 42 1.3.1 The Dynamics of Allusion 43 1.3.1.1 Extra-biblical Influences on Tobit 44 1.3.1.2 Biblical Influences on Tobit 47 1.3.2 Narrative Signs, Designs and Resolutions 52 1.3.3 Literary and Theological Reasons for Narrative Shift 58 1.4 Conclusion 61 Chapter 2: The Wisdom Instructions in Tob 4:3-19, 21; 12:6-10 and 14:8-11 63 2.1 The Textual Situation of Tobit 4 65 2.1.1 The Wisdom Instructions of Tobit 4 as Insertions 65 2.1.2 The Original Incorporation of the Instructions 67 2.1.3 A Case of Scribal Error in Transmission 68 2.2 Observations on the Narrative and Formal Features of Tobit 4 71 2.2.1 Narratological Considerations 72 2.2.1.1 Tob 4:3-4 74 2.2.1.2 Tob 4:5-19, 21 78 2.2.2 Imperatives and Vetitives 82 2.2.3 Suggested Structure 85 2.2.3.1 The Lex Generalis 92 2.2.3.2 The Leitwort in the Instructions 113 2.2.3.3 The Inclusio 116 2.3 The Hortatory Words of Rafael in Tob 12:6-10 119 2.3.1 The Two Chief Instructions of Rafael 120 2.3.1.1 Tobit and Fasting 122 2.3.1.2 ‘Prayer with Truth’ and ‘Almsgiving with Justice’ 124 2.3.2 Proclaim the Words of God 126 2.4 Tobit’s Farewell Instructions in Tob 4:8-11 129 2.5 Conclusion 131 Chapter 3: The Narrative Function of Tobit’s Instructions 133 3.1 Tobit as an Ancient Novel 134 3.1.1 Genre Suggestions 135 3.1.2 A Tale of Two Genres 136 3.2 Story and Discourse 139 3.2.1 The Shape of the Story 140 3.2.1.1 The “How” and the “What” of Tobit 141 3.2.1.2 The Five Narrative Movements 143 3.2.1.3 The Ultimate State of Lack in the Narrative 146 3.2.1.4 Narrative Structure and the Wisdom Instructions 147 3.2.2 The Characterization of Tobit 148 3.2.3 Repetition as a Literary Device 152 3.2.3.1 Varied Repetition 154 3.2.3.2 Similar yet Different 155 3.3 The Narrative Role of Tobit’s Instructions 157 3.3.1 Tobit’s Wisdom Discourse and Plot 158 3.3.1.1 Tobit’s Wisdom Instructions as Preparatory for the Journey 160 3.3.1.2 “To be or not to be”: The Character of Tobias as Key 162 3.3.1.3 The Plot as an Illustration of a Sapiential Conviction 172 3.3.2 Allusive Strategy and Tobit’s Instructions 174 3.3.2.1 The Book of Tobit and Exodus 175 3.3.2.2 The Variations and their Significance 177 3.4 The Narrative Role of Rafael’s Instructions 184 3.4.1 From Ignorance to Knowledge 185 3.4.2 Rafael as Wisdom Teacher 187 3.5 The Gospel of Ahiqar According to Tobit 189 3.5.1 The Story of Ahiqar 189 3.5.2 The Function of the Story of Ahiqar 191 3.5.2.1 The Story of Ahiqar as a Validation of a Teaching 191 3.5.2.2 Variations on a Theme 193 3.6 Conclusion 195 Chapter 4: The Wisdom Tradition and the Instructions of Tobit 197 4.1 The Wisdom Tradition in Israel 200 4.1.1 The Development of the Wisdom Tradition in Israel 204 4.1.1.1 Popular Wisdom 206 4.1.1.2 Wisdom Activity in the Court and in the School 208 4.1.1.3 The Wisdom Tradition after the Exile 217 4.1.2 The Book of Tobit and the Wisdom Tradition 219 4.2 Traces of the Wisdom Tradition in Tobit 227 4.2.1 The Sapiential Appeal 228 4.2.1.1 The Epistemological Assumption 230 4.2.1.2 The Validity of the Wisdom Tradition 232 4.2.2 The Family as Context 235 4.2.3 The Prominence of Divine Providence 239 4.2.3.1 The Movement of the Divine Hand 241 4.2.3.2 The Metaphor of ‘the way’ 243 4.2.4 The Formation of the Habits of the Heart 244 4.2.5 The Fear of God 249 4.3 Emerging Themes of the Wisdom Tradition in Tobit 252 4.3.1 Wisdom and National History 253 4.3.2 Prayer and the Wise 256 4.3.3 The Nexus of Act/Character and Consequence 259 4.3.3.1 The Doctrine of Retribution 262 4.3.3.2 Divine and Human xxxevlehmosu,nh 266 4.4 Conclusion 270 Chapter 5: Tobit and Wisdom in Exile 273 5.1 A Question of Purpose 274 5.1.1 To Edify 275 5.1.2 To Entertain 277 5.2 The Sapiential and Cultic Traditions 280 5.2.1 The Increasing Prominent Role of Wisdom 281 5.2.2 Compromise? 283 5.2.3 Tobit and the Law of Moses 285 5.3 Tobit in Exile? 288 5.3.1 Tobit’s Deuteronomic Explanation of Exile 289 5.3.2 Exile as an Interim Time 293 5.3.3 Exile as Root Metaphor 295 5.3.4 Boundaries Unbound 300 5.4 Wisdom in Exile 301 5.4.1 Practices that Foster Unity and Identity 304 5.4.1.1 Genealogy as Constitutive of Identity 305 5.4.1.2 Acts of Solidarity 308 5.4.1.3 Preferential Option for the Disposition of the Believer 310 5.4.2 Instruction in the Wisdom of the Fathers 311 5.4.2.1 Education in Wisdom 311 5.4.2.2 Wisdom as Link Across Time and Place 313 5.4.2.3 The Superiority of God’s Wisdom 314 5.5 Conclusion 317 General Conclusion 319 Bibliography 323 Index of Modern Authors 363 Index of References 371 Scholars have shown renewed interest in the Book of Tobit since fragments of the text were found at Qumran. However, the wisdom instructions of Tobit 4 have remained largely ignored. The present study provides an extensive treatment of this important section, reading Tobit's wisdom discourse as a vital component in the literary expression of the author and as a strong indication of the significant role of the sapiential tradition in the world of Diaspora living. In the context of Second Temple Judaism, Tobit's wisdom discourse is part of an essential avenue for shaping identity and creating a distinct ethos for those outside the land. --From publisher's description