Sunday, July 13, 2008

SESSION FOURTEEN: Questions for Reflection 6:10-8:18

1. Why do you think Asmodeus won’t let Sarah’s husband consummate the marriage?
2. Scholars differ regarding their opinion of what was essential for the exorcism. Do you think the exorcism performed by Tobiah was in one part (burning the fish’s heart and liver) or three (burning the fish’s heart and liver, prayer, and consummating the marriage (which could end in child rearing)?
3. Is Edna just another among a list of weak, behind the scenes women in this story or is she a strong and important figure? How would you compare Anna and Edna?
4. How would you describe the process of marriage in this story? What steps followed what?
5. Do you look like any of your relatives such that people immediately recognize your relation when you enter a room? Have you ever been confused for someone else?
6. Compare Tobit’s journey to Isaac’s journey in Genesis 24. Do you think the author of Tobit was influenced by this passage?

1 comment:

kiwi_tea said...

It's also worth considering whether Tobit is actually a serial liar, a boastful person at the same time as being a very good one. He tells of how he alone of his tribe is good, then admits to Raphael that others accompanied him in worship. David McCracken argues this very convincingly in his essay 'Narration and Comedy in The Book of Tobit', published in the Autumn 1995 version of Journal of Biblical Literature.

SESSION TWENTY ONE: Getting Deeper 12:1 – 14:15

We conclude this book with two farewell speeches and the end of life for our heroes. As some of you may remember from past "Getting De...