This verse from Tobit 10:7 paints a picture of intense grief and desperation mixed with a yearning for resolution. Let's break it down:
"And she said to him, “Hold your peace. Don’t deceive me. My child has perished.”" This is Anna, Tobias's mother, speaking to someone (likely a messenger or perhaps her husband, Tobit). She is in deep distress and rejects any attempts to comfort her or give her false hope. She believes her son Tobias is dead and refuses to be misled. This highlights her despair and her unwavering belief that something terrible has happened.
"And she went out every day into the way by which they went..." This shows Anna's active grief. She's not passively waiting for news. She is going to the road they used to leave, desperately hoping for a sign, a returning figure, or any indication that her son is still alive. This emphasizes her love and her refusal to give up hope completely, despite her words.
"...and ate no bread in the day-time, and didn’t stop bewailing her son Tobias for whole nights..." This describes the severity of her mourning. Fasting during the day and constant weeping at night are traditional signs of deep grief. This underscores the depth of her sorrow and her utter inability to function normally while she believes her son is dead.
"...until the fourteen days of the wedding feast were expired, which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there." This sets a time frame. Tobias has been gone at least fourteen days, the duration of his wedding feast with Sarah at Raguel's house. This passage reminds us that Tobias has actually gotten married and is safe, even though his mother mistakenly presumes him dead. This adds dramatic irony and heightens the reader's sympathy for Anna's unwarranted suffering.
"Then Tobias said to Raguel, “Send me away, for my father and my mother look no more to see me.”" This part reveals the other side of the story. Tobias is aware of his parents' anxiety. He recognizes that their worry has likely reached a critical point. Because he promised to stay for the whole wedding feast, he has patiently waited until the duration of the promise, before wanting to return home. This demonstrates Tobias's awareness of his parents' feelings and his desire to alleviate their suffering.
In summary, the verse illustrates:
The depth of parental love and grief: Anna's extreme sorrow and actions demonstrate the profound bond between a mother and her child.
The pain of uncertainty: The verse emphasizes the torment of not knowing the fate of a loved one.
The importance of communication: This is a story where a lack of communication causes significant distress.
The resolution of the story: The reader knows Tobias is alive, adding dramatic irony to Anna's grief and creating anticipation for their eventual reunion.
Honoring of commitments: Tobias stays true to his promise even with the knowledge that his parents are worried.
This verse from Tobit 10:7 paints a picture of intense grief and desperation mixed with a yearning for resolution. Let's break it down:
"And she said to him, “Hold your peace. Don’t deceive me. My child has perished.”" This is Anna, Tobias's mother, speaking to someone (likely a messenger or perhaps her husband, Tobit). She is in deep distress and rejects any attempts to comfort her or give her false hope. She believes her son Tobias is dead and refuses to be misled. This highlights her despair and her unwavering belief that something terrible has happened.
"And she went out every day into the way by which they went..." This shows Anna's active grief. She's not passively waiting for news. She is going to the road they used to leave, desperately hoping for a sign, a returning figure, or any indication that her son is still alive. This emphasizes her love and her refusal to give up hope completely, despite her words.
"...and ate no bread in the day-time, and didn’t stop bewailing her son Tobias for whole nights..." This describes the severity of her mourning. Fasting during the day and constant weeping at night are traditional signs of deep grief. This underscores the depth of her sorrow and her utter inability to function normally while she believes her son is dead.
"...until the fourteen days of the wedding feast were expired, which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there." This sets a time frame. Tobias has been gone at least fourteen days, the duration of his wedding feast with Sarah at Raguel's house. This passage reminds us that Tobias has actually gotten married and is safe, even though his mother mistakenly presumes him dead. This adds dramatic irony and heightens the reader's sympathy for Anna's unwarranted suffering.
"Then Tobias said to Raguel, “Send me away, for my father and my mother look no more to see me.”" This part reveals the other side of the story. Tobias is aware of his parents' anxiety. He recognizes that their worry has likely reached a critical point. Because he promised to stay for the whole wedding feast, he has patiently waited until the duration of the promise, before wanting to return home. This demonstrates Tobias's awareness of his parents' feelings and his desire to alleviate their suffering.
In summary, the verse illustrates:
The depth of parental love and grief: Anna's extreme sorrow and actions demonstrate the profound bond between a mother and her child.
The pain of uncertainty: The verse emphasizes the torment of not knowing the fate of a loved one.
The importance of communication: This is a story where a lack of communication causes significant distress.
The resolution of the story: The reader knows Tobias is alive, adding dramatic irony to Anna's grief and creating anticipation for their eventual reunion.
Honoring of commitments: Tobias stays true to his promise even with the knowledge that his parents are worried.