Line from the Odyssey in Tobias?

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No, I’m not saying anything for now. I’ll just quote some stuff and leave it there.

Jerome to the Bishops in the Lord Cromatius and Heliodorus, health!

I do not cease to wonder at the constancy of your demanding. For you demand that I bring a book written in Chaldean words into Latin writing, indeed the book of Tobias, which the Hebrews exclude from the catalogue of Divine Scriptures, being mindful of those things which they have titled Hagiographa. I have done enough for your desire, yet not by my study. For the studies of the Hebrews rebuke us and find fault with us, to translate this for the ears of Latins contrary to their canon. But it is better to be judging the opinion of the Pharisees to displease and to be subject to the commands of bishops. I have persisted as I have been able, and because the language of the Chaldeans is close to Hebrew speech, finding a speaker very skilled in both languages, I took to the work of one day, and whatever he expressed to me in Hebrew words, this, with a summoned scribe, I have set forth in Latin words. I will be paid the price of this work by your prayers, when, by your grace, I will have learned what you request to have been completed by me was worthy.
 
patrick457 said:
No, I’m not saying anything for now. I’ll just quote some stuff and leave it there.

Jerome to the Bishops in the Lord Cromatius and Heliodorus, health!

I do not cease to wonder at the constancy of your demanding. For you demand that I bring a book written in Chaldean words into Latin writing, indeed the book of Tobias, which the Hebrews exclude from the catalogue of Divine Scriptures, being mindful of those things which they have titled Hagiographa. I have done enough for your desire, yet not by my study. For the studies of the Hebrews rebuke us and find fault with us, to translate this for the ears of Latins contrary to their canon. But it is better to be judging the opinion of the Pharisees to displease and to be subject to the commands of bishops. I have persisted as I have been able, and because the language of the Chaldeans is close to Hebrew speech, finding a speaker very skilled in both languages, I took to the work of one day, and whatever he expressed to me in Hebrew words, this, with a summoned scribe, I have set forth in Latin words. I will be paid the price of this work by your prayers, when, by your grace, I will have learned what you request to have been completed by me was worthy.
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Criticism of Tobit comes in modern times from those who expect a high degree of historical accuracy, when that is fairly obviously not intended by the unknown author. But, the principles that Tobit teaches are timeless and in complete accord with what Pious Jews practiced and which Jesus would fulfill and refine some 200 years later. Surprisingly, the Angelology in Tobit is the most advanced in the Old Testament, and was presented to the Hebrews in the time frame immediately preceding the highest purpose of angelic messaging: to announce the last prophet of the Old Testament, and his kinsman, the Christ.

Those who seek flawless historical accuracy had better look outside the bible, as it is not primarily a history, or a science book. It is timeless, whereas history books are written by the victors and science books are obsolete in 10 years. Homer could indeed have been a model for the prose used in Tobit, but that is solely a matter of style and not of content or inspiration.
 
4Q197, lines 5-6 (Aramaic)

ואזלו] כחדא וסדר להון לילה והכו ע]ד דקלת]… ומלא]כא עמה וח]ך כלבא]

(6:2) …and] the [ange]l (was) with him, and [the dog we]nt [along, and] together [they travelled.] And there followed for them [a night, and they came t]o the Tigris.

Greek II (NETS)

Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος μετ’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ κύων ἐξῆλθεν μετ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύθη μετ’ αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἀμφότεροι, καὶ ἔτυχεν αὐτοῖς νὺξ μία, καὶ ηὐλίσθησαν ἐπὶ τοῦ Τίγριδος ποταμοῦ.

(6:2 (1)) Then the child went out, and the angel with him, and the dog went out with him and walked with them. And they both walked, and the first night came upon them, and they camped by the Tigris River.

Καὶ ὡς ἤγγισαν εἰς Κασεριν, ἥ ἐστιν κατέναντι Νινευη, εἶπεν Ραφαηλ· Σὺ γινώσκεις πῶς ἀφήκαμεν τὸν πατέρα σου· προδράμωμεν τῆς γυναικός σου καὶ ἑτοιμάσωμεν τὴν οἰκίαν, ἐν ᾧ ἔρχονται. καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἀμφότεροι κοινῶς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Λαβὲ μετὰ χεῖρας τὴν χολήν. καὶ συνῆλθεν αὐτοῖς ὁ κύων ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

(11:1) When they came near to Kaserein, which is opposite Nineue, (2) Raphael said, “You know how we left your father. (3) Let us run on ahead of your wife and prepare the house while they are on the way.” (4) So the two of them went together, and he said to him, “Take the gall with your hands.” And the dog came along behind them.

Greek I (NETS)

Καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Τωβίαν· Ἕτοιμος γίνου πρὸς τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ εὐοδωθείητε. καὶ ἡτοίμασεν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ τὰ πρὸς τὴν ὁδόν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ· Πορεύου μετὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου, ὁ δὲ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ οἰκῶν Θεὸς εὐοδώσει τὴν ὁδὸν ὑμῶν, καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ συμπορευθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξῆλθαν ἀμφότεροι ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ὁ κύων τοῦ παιδαρίου μετ᾿ αὐτῶν.

(5:17b (16b)) Then he (Tobit) said to Tobias, “Get ready for the journey, and may you be successful.” So his son prepared the things for the journey. And his father said to him, “Go with the man, and God who dwells in heaven will make your journey successful, and may his angel go along with you.” So they went out to go away, and the young man’s dog with them.

Καὶ ἐπορεύετο μέχρις οὗ ἐγγίσαι αὐτοὺς εἰς Νινευῆ. καὶ εἶπε Ραφαὴλ πρὸς Τωβίαν· οὐ γινώσκεις, ἀδελφέ, πῶς ἀφῆκας τὸν πατέρα σου; 2 προδράμωμεν ἔμπροσθεν τῆς γυναικός σου καὶ ἑτοιμάσωμεν τὴν οἰκίαν· λαβὲ δὲ παρὰ χεῖρα τὴν χολὴν τοῦ ἰχθῦος. καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ συνῆλθεν ὁ κύων ὄπισθεν αὐτῶν.

(11:1) So he went on until they came near to Nineue. (2) Then Raphael said to Tobias, “Do you not know, brother, how you left your father? (3) Let us run on ahead before your wife and prepare the house. (4) Now take in your hand the gall of the fish.” So they went on, and the dog came along behind them.

Vetus Latina (Sabatier = MS Regius 3564)

Et profectus est filius illorum, et angelus cum illo, et canis secutus est eos: et ibant pariter, et comprehendit illos proxima nox, et manserunt super flumen Tigrim.

(6:1) And their son went out, and the angel with him, and the dog followed them: and they went together, and the next night overtook them, and they camped over the river of Tigris.

Et profecti sunt et ibant donec uenirent Charram, quae ciuitas est contra Niniuen. Tunc dixit Raphahel: Thobias frater, nescis quomodo reliqueris patrem tuum? Praecedamus uxorem tuam, et eamus, et praeparemus domum, dum prosequitur nos puella. Et praecesserunt pariter, et dixit illi angelus: Tolle tecum de fel illo, et habe. Et abiit cum illis et canis.

(11:1) And they set out and made their way until they came to Charran, which is a town opposite Ninive. (2) Then Raphael said, “Brother Thobias, do you not know how you left your father? (3) Let us precede your wife and go and prepare the house, while the young woman follows us.” (4) And they preceded together, and the angel said to him, “Take with you some of the gall and have it ready.” And the dog also went with them.**
 
VL (Codex Monacensis)

(6:1 (2)) Et profectus est igitur Tobias, et angelus cum illo, et canis secutus est illos. Et ibant pariter, et conprehendit illos et nox prima, et manserunt super flumen Tygris.

(11:1-4) Et proficiscebatur de(ue)niret in Charran quae ciuitas est contra Niniuen. Et tunc dixit Raphael angelus Tobiae: Frater, nescis quomodo reliqueris patrem tuum? Et nunc praecedamus uxorem tuam, et eamus praeparemus domum, dum prosequitur nos. Et praecesserunt pariter, et dixit illi: Tolle tecum de fel illo. Et abiit (cum) illis et canis.

VL (Bible de Rosas)

(6:1 (2)) Et profectus est filius illorum, et angelus cum illo, et canis secutus est eos: et ibant pariter, et comprehendit illos proxima nox, et manserunt super flumen Tigrim.

(11:1-4) Et proficiscentes (?) ibant donec uenirent in Carram ciuitatem, que est contra Ninniue. Tunc ait Raphael angelus ad Tobiam, Tobia frater, nescis quomodo dimiseris patrem tuum? Precedamus itaque uxorem tuam, et eamus domum et illa (uilla) prosequatur nos. Atque ita processerunt, et habiit cum illis et canis. Et ait Raphael angelus Tobiae, Tolle tecum de felle piscis illius.

Vulgate (Amiatinus; Challoner)

Profectus est ergo (Clementine: autem) Thobias et canis secutus est eum et mansit prima mansione iuxta fluuium Tigris.

(6:1) And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him, and he lodged the first night by the river of Tigris.

Tunc praecucurrit canis qui simul fuerat in uia et quasi nuntius adueniens blandimento suae caudae gaudebat.

(11:9) Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.
 
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