1
The sefer of the words of Toviyt, son of Toviy’el, son of Chanani’el, son of Adu’el, son of Gavay’el, from the seed of Asiy’el, of the tribe of Naftali,
2
who in the days of Shalman’eser, king of Ashshur, was taken captive from Tishbeh, which is south of Qedesh-Naftali in the upper Galil, above Asher toward the west, and north of Pe’or.
3
I, Toviyt, walked in the ways of truth and Righteousness all the days of my life. And I performed many acts of righteousness for my brothers and for my people who had gone with me into the land of Ashshur, to Nineveh.
4
And when I was in my own land, in the land of Yisra’el, while I was still young, all the tribe of Naftali my father departed from the House of Daviyd and from Yerushalayim— the city chosen from all the tribes of Yisra’el, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the Temple of the Dwelling of El Elyon had been set apart and established for all generations.
5
And all my brothers, and the house of Naftali my father, sacrificed upon all the mountains of the Galil to the calf that Yarovam king of Yisra’el had made in Dan.
6
But I alone would often go to Yerushalayim at the appointed times, as it is written in the Torah concerning all Yisra’el, carrying the firstfruits and the firstborn and the tithes of the produce and the first shearings of the sheep.
7
And I would give these to the kohenim, the sons of Aharon, at the altar. The first tenth of all the produce I gave to the sons of Levi who ministered in Yerushalayim. And the second tenth I sold, and I would go and spend it each year in Yerushalayim.
8
And the third I gave to those for whom it was appointed, as Devorah, the mother of my father, had commanded me, because I had been left an orphan by my father.
9
And when I had become an ish, I took Channah as ishah from the seed of our own house, and from her I fathered a son, and I called his name Toviyah.
10
And when I was carried away captive into Ashshur and came to Nineveh, all my brothers and those of my kin ate the bread of the nations.
11
But I guarded my being from eating it,
12
because I remembered Elohim with all my being.
13
And El Elyon gave me favor and good standing before Shalman’eser, and I became his purchaser.
14
And I traveled into Media and purchased for him until his death. And I deposited ten talents of silver with Gavay’el, the brother of Gavri, at Rages in Media.
15
But when Shalman’eser died, Sancheriv his son became king in his place. And the roads of Media became unsafe, so that I could no longer go there.
16
And in the days of Shalman’eser I performed many acts of righteousness for my brothers who were from my people.
17
I gave my bread to the hungry and my garments to the naked. And if I saw one of my people dead and thrown outside the wall of Nineveh, I buried him.
18
And if Sancheriv killed any when he returned fleeing from Yehudah, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he killed many. And when the king sought their bodies, they were not found.
19
But one of the men of Nineveh went and reported to the king concerning me—that I was burying them. And I hid myself. And when I learned that I was being sought to be put to death, I became afraid and fled.
20
And all that belonged to me was seized, and nothing was left to me that was not taken into the king’s treasury, except Channah my ishah and Toviyah my son.
21
But not forty days passed before two of his sons killed him and fled into the mountains of Ararat. And Esar-Chaddon his son became king in his place. And he appointed Achiachar, son of my brother Chanan’el, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over all his administration.
22
Then Achiachar interceded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. For Achiachar had been chief cupbearer, keeper of the signet, administrator, and accountant under Sancheriv king of Ashshur, and Esar-Chaddon appointed him again. And he was of my kin— my brother’s son.