The Apocrypha Assessment: Tobit 1

Tobit is a well-written fictional story about a pious Hebrew who suffers. Tobit (means "my good"; his son's name "Tobias" means "YHWH is my good") was a righteous Israelite who did not worship the golden calf and visited Jerusalem in neighboring Judah at the 3 major festivals (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles). He gives away 3/10 of his income, 1/10 of it to the poor and disenfranchised. He was originally a resident of Upper Galilee who is taken into exile by Assyria. He worked his way up to a high position but remained loyal to Jewish tradition, ie, eating Kosher, burying the dead, etc. This gets him in trouble but he is saved by his relative, Ahikar, who is the hero of some popular non-Jewish tales.

So far this story is off to a good start.