“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged.
The glory of children is their parents.”
Simply put, the children of your children are the crown for the old people. The glory of children is their parents and grandparents.
grandchildren
Inheritance (Prov 13:22-13:25)
“The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children.
But the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
The field of the poor may yield much food.
But it is swept away through injustice.
Those who spare the rod
Hate their children.
But those who love them
Are diligent to discipline them.
The righteous have enough
To satisfy their appetite.
But the belly of the wicked
Is empty.”
Good people leave an inheritance to their children and grandchildren. However, the sinner’s wealth is taken over by the righteous. There is no indication how this is done. The fields of the poor have a good yield, but someone unjustly takes it away. This sounds strange, but once again there is no explanation as to how this is done. Then there is the famous phrase about sparing the rod. If you did not use the stick on your children it meant that you disliked your children. If you loved them, you disciplined them. The righteous would always have enough to satisfy their appetites. However, the wicked will have an empty belly.
Yahweh gives prosperity (Ps 128:5-128:6)
“Yahweh blesses you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
All the days of your life!
May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!”
Prosperity comes in two ways, one is in the city of Jerusalem and the other is your family. Yahweh will bless you from Mount Zion. You will see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Of course, we have the famous phrase, may you see your children’s children, and have grandchildren. This short psalm ends with the Shalom peace to all Israel. So we have Yahweh’s prosperity, peace in Israel, prosperity in Jerusalem, and a long life to see your grandchildren live.
The value of the prophets (Tob 14:3-14:4)
“When he was about to die, he called his son Tobias and the seven sons of Tobias. He gave them his command.
‘My son, take your children and hurry off to Media.
I believe the word of God that Nahum spoke about Nineveh.
All these things will take place and overtake Assyria and Nineveh.
Everything that was spoken by the prophets of Israel,
Whom God sent,
Will occur.
None of their words will fail.
All will come true at their appointed times.
It will be safer in Media than in Assyria and Babylon.
I know and believe that whatever God has said
Will be fulfilled
And will come true.
Not a single word of the prophecies will fail.
All our kindred,
Inhabitants of the land of Israel,
Will be scattered.
They will be taken as captives from the good land.
The whole land of Israel,
Even Samaria and Jerusalem,
Will be desolate.
The temple of God in it will be burned to the ground.
It will be desolate for a while.’”
As Tobit was about to die, he called his son Tobias and his 7 grandchildren. See the number 7 again. He told them to go to Media because there was going to be trouble in Nineveh. Tobit believed in all prophets and how valuable their prophecies were. He was a strong believer in the prophets proclaiming the word of God. He even said that not a single word of the prophecies would fail. Nahum was considered a minor prophet of the 7th century that he would have known. Nahum saw the destruction of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, but he predicted the downfall of Nineveh, which of course led to the ascent of the Persians. Tobit here also predicted the ruin of both the north and south in Israel, including Jerusalem and also the Temple itself. There would be desolation.
The blessing of Raguel for Tobias and Sarah (Tob 10:11-10:12)
“Then Raguel saw them safely off. He embraced Tobias and said.
‘Farewell, my child!
Have a safe journey!
The Lord of heaven prosper you,
The Lord of heaven prosper your wife Sarah,
May I see children of yours before I die.’
Then he kissed his daughter, and said to her.
‘My daughter,
Honor your father-in-law.
Honor your mother-in-law.
From now on they are as much your parents
As those who gave you birth.
Go in peace, daughter!
May I have a good report of you as long as I live.’
Then he bade them farewell and let them go.”
Raguel blessed both Tobias and Sarah his daughter. This is a beautiful blessing. He wanted them to have a safe journey. He wanted them to prosper. He referred to God as the God of heaven, the Persian way of speaking of God. Then he had the wish of all parents, to see grandchildren before he died. For his daughter, he reminded her to honor her new father and mother in-law. She should respect her in-laws like her own parents. He wanted to hear a good report about her as long as he lived. Finally, he said good-bye in this touching farewell.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 