10:1 Now Tobit his father counted every day: and when the days of the journey were expired, and they came not,

CHRYSOSTOM. In children we have a great charge committed to us. Let us bestow great care upon them, and do everything that the Evil One may not rob us of them. But now our practice is the very reverse of this. We take all care indeed to have our farm in good order, and to commit it to a faithful manager, we look out for it an ass-driver, and muleteer, and bailiff, and a clever accomptant. But we do not look out for what is much more important, for a person to whom we may commit our son as the guardian of his morals, though this is a possession much more valuable than all others. It is for him indeed that we take such care of our estate. We take care of our possessions for our children, but of the children themselves we take no care at all. [John Chrysostom, Hom. 9 on 1 Timothy, NPNF s.1 v.13]

10:2 Then Tobit said, Are they detained or is Gabael dead, and there is no man to give him the money 3 Therefore he was very sorry. 4 Then his wife said unto him, My son is dead, seeing he stayed long; and she began to wail him, and said, 5 Now I care for nothing, my son, since I have let you go, the light of mine eyes. 6 To whom Tobit said, Hold your peace, take no care, for he is safe. 7 But she said, Hold your peace, and deceive me not; my son is dead. And she went out every day into the way which they went, and did eat no meat on the daytime, and ceased not whole nights to bewail her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding were expired, which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there. Then Tobias said to Raguel,

AMBROSE. For a mother’s love knows no moderation. [Ambrose of Milan, de fide, PL 16.5.661B]

AMBROSE. We know that a mother will expose herself to danger for her children. Let us obey the counsel of the mother of wisdom, the command of the mother. [Ambrose of Milan, Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam, PL 15.6.1669C}°°

BEDE. This applies to those believing Jews who console themselves and their people with the hope that at some future time the Lord will surely return to them and all Israel will be saved. (Rom. 11:26) They know that the Lord who promises this is very trustworthy. For as we showed above, the elder Tobit signifies in Scripture’s customary manner both unbelievers because of his blindness and believers because of his faith. [Bede the Venerable, Allegorica interpretatio in Tobiam PL 91.933B)]°’

10:8 Let me go, for my father and my mother look no more to see me. 9 But his father in law said unto him, Tarry with me, and I will send to your father, and they shall declare unto him how things go with you.

10:10 But Tobias said, No; but let me go to my father. 11 Then Raguel arose, and gave him Sara his wife, and half his goods, servants, and cattle, and money: 12 And he blessed them, and sent them away, saying, The God of heaven give you a prosperous journey, my children.

BEDE. At the world’s end, the Church’s teachers will send Christ back along with the Church itself, which has been filled with virtue’s riches, to the Jews from whom he assumed the flesh so that faith might enlighten them and the wealth of good works enrich them. [Bede the Venerable, Allegorica interpretatio in Tobiam PL 91.933B]®

10:13 And he said to his daughter, Honor your father and your mother in law, which are now your parents, that I may hear good report of you. And he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, The Lord of heaven restore you, my dear brother, and grant that I may see your children of my daughter Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the Lord: behold, I commit my daughter unto you of special trust; where are do not entreat her evil.