Tobit's Final Advice and Tobias' Later Life

Tobit finished giving thanks to God. He remembered that he had lost his sight when he was fifty-eight, and after eight years he received it again. As he grew older, he kept giving alms, feared the Lord more and more, and continued to thank him.

When Tobit had become very old, he called his son together with his son's six sons. He said he was ready to die and told them to go to Media, not stay in Nineveh. He believed Nineveh would be overthrown, while Media would have peace for a time.

Tobit also spoke about what would happen to his people. He said their kindred would be scattered, Jerusalem would become desolate, and the house of God would be burned and lie desolate for a time. Yet God would again show mercy, bring them back, and the house would be rebuilt, though not like the former one at first. Afterward, Jerusalem would be built with honour.

Then Tobit looked further ahead. He said all nations would turn to fear the Lord truly and would bury their idols. They would bless the Lord, and his people would give thanks to God. So Tobit urged his son to keep the law and the ordinances, and to be merciful and righteous.

Tobit told his son to bury him properly, and later to bury Anna with him, and not to remain in Nineveh. He reminded his children how Achiacharus was saved while Aman fell into the trap meant for another, and he said they should consider what alms can do and how righteousness delivers. Then Tobit died at the age of one hundred and fifty-eight, and Tobias buried him magnificently.

After Anna died, Tobias buried her with his father. Then he went with his wife and sons to Ecbatana, to Raguel his father-in-law. He grew old in honour there, buried his father-in-law and mother-in-law magnificently, inherited their possessions and his father Tobit's, and died at one hundred and twenty-seven. Before he died, he heard of Nineveh's destruction and rejoiced over it.