Full Description
These three colorful books offer gripping stories of how God shows his mercy and accomplishes his will through human actions. Jonah is a reluctant prophet who must be swallowed by a whale before he delivers his message to Israel's ancient enemies at Nineveh that they must repent or face doom. Tobit tells of the trials and tribulations of a family, and the power of prayer as God sends an angel to guide Tobit's son Tobiah on a journey of resolution. In the book of Judith, a simple and courageous widow, rather than an army, saves her people from destruction by a powerful enemy.
This rich commentary explores the significant themes of each book, showing that God is intimately involved with the destiny of humankind.
Contents
CONTENTS
Abbreviations 6
THE BOOK OF JONAH
Introduction 7
Text and Commentary 9
Jonah's Disobedience and Flight (Jonah 1) 9
Jonah's Prayer (Jonah 2) 11
Jonah's Obedience and the Ninevites' Repentance (Jonah 3) 13
Jonah's Anger and God's Reproof (Jonah 4) 15
THE BOOK OF TOBIT
Introduction 18
Text and Commentary 22
Tobit's Virtue and Courage (Tobit 1) 22
Tobit's Blindness (Tobit 2) 26
Tobit and Sarah Pray for Death; God's Answer (Tobit 3) 28
Tobit's Instruction to Tobiah (Tobit 4) 32
The Angel Raphael (Tobit 5) 35
The Journey and Raphael's Instructions (Tobit 6) 38
Raguel's House: Arrival and Marriage (Tobit 7) 41
Resolution: Demon Expelled, Wedding Feast, Money Recovered (Tobit 8-9) 43
Parents' Anxiety; Departure from Ecbatana (Tobit 10) 46
Homeward Journey and Healing (Tobit 11) 48
Raphael's Identity (Tobit 12) 50
Tobit's Song of Praise (Tobit 13) 52
Epilogue (Tobit 14) 54
THE BOOK OF JUDITH
Introduction 57
Text and Commentary 60
Nebuchadnezzar's Victory against Arphaxad (Judith 1) 60
Revenge against the West and Holofernes's Campaigns (Judith 2) 62
Submission of Vassal Nations and Israel's Preparation for War (Judith 3-4) 65
Achior in the Assyrian War Council (Judith 5) 67
Response to Achior and His Arrival in Bethulia (Judith 6) 70
The Siege of Bethulia (Judith 7) 72
Arrival of Judith and Her Response to the Crisis (Judith 8) 75
The Prayer of Judith (Judith 9) 78
Judith and Her Maid Go Out to War (Judith 10) 80
Judith and Holofernes (Judith 11) 82
Judith in the Assyrian Camp and at Holofernes's Tent (Judith 12) 85
Judith Beheads Holofernes and Returns to Bethulia (Judith 13) 87
The People's Victory over the Enemy (Judith 14) 91
Celebration of Victory; Praise of Judith (Judith 15) 93
Judith's Thanksgiving Song (Judith 16:1-17) 95
Happily Ever After (Judith 16:18-25) 98
Review Aids and Discussion Topics 100
Index of Citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 103
Map 104
