This guy, he was living a life of devotion, even in exile in Nineveh. And as we pick up the story in the Book of Tobit, chapter two, things are about to get… well, complicated.
It’s the Feast of Weeks – Shavuot as it’s known in Hebrew – a time of celebration, of bringing in the first fruits, and remembering the giving of the Torah. Tobit, ever the righteous man, is preparing a grand feast in his home. Imagine the smells of delicious food wafting through the air!
But Tobit's heart isn't just about feasting for himself. "Go," he tells his son, Tobiyyah, "and bring one of our poor brethren to eat with us, and I and all who sit with me will not eat until thou comest." Talk about putting your money where your mouth is! He's making sure everyone, especially the less fortunate, gets to share in the joy of the holiday. What a guy. He is literally holding up his own dinner party to make sure someone in need gets a seat at the table.
This act of kindness, this immediate impulse to share his abundance, really speaks to Tobit’s character. He wasn’t just going through the motions of religious observance; he was living it, breathing it, embodying it in every action. This wasn't just charity, it was an active participation in creating a community of shared joy.