Francis M. Macatanguay, «Mistos and Irony in the Book of Tobit»
The deuterocanonical Book of Tobit is a delightful story that employs ironic flourishes in its narrative. The word mistos which literally means 'wages' and figuratively connotes 'reward' appears frequently in the story. It is argued that the narrative use of the word participates in dramatic irony. As a rhetorical strategy, the irony addresses the limitations of the title character’s espousal of the traditional typology for reward and punishment.
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580 FRANCIS M. MACATANGAY
her skillful work Anna successfully brought home a bonus but Tobit had
not had any success in his efforts despite his advice that those who act in
truth and practice righteousness would find success in their works (4,6-7).
In short, working Anna is on the side of literal μισθός while the out-of-work
Tobit, the first-person narrator of this episode, sees μισθός differently. To a
certain extent, the levels of understanding μισθός that their role reversals
have brought about mark the clash between the spouses.
The shifting meanings of μισθός in its first dramatic appearance in
this episode thus stir the reader to pose certain questions. Would it be bet-
ter to trust in human striving and its consequent rewards than in God’s
justice? Is μισθός applicable to God? If so, do misfortunes imply the ab-
sence of God’s reward for obedience and fidelity? If human reward for
prompt and diligent work can take the form of a young goat, what might
the nature of divine recompense be? Are human and divine rewards ana-
logous? Early in the narrative, the double meanings of μισθός are already
in play, giving rise to a conversation marked by conflict between a hus-
band and a wife whose traditional roles have been reversed.
In his lengthy wisdom speech to his son in Tobit 4, μισθός occurs four
times (4,14). Tobit instructs Tobias to pay immediately and not to keep
with him overnight the μισθός of a person who has worked for him. Tobit
counts such behavior as serving God in truth, or following the command-
ment of God as it is spelled out in Lev 19,13. Tobit’s use of μισθός in his
instruction to pay a laborer’s wage betrays no hint of irony. As an instruc-
tion, it is as straightforward and vivid as exhortations go. The instruction
of course links the narrative to the events in Tobit 5 and in Tobit 12, the
chapters that frame Tobias’ journey. In Tobit 5, Tobit and Tobias hire a
traveling companion whom they commission as guide and promise to pay
for his services so that Tobias can go and retrieve in safety the money de-
posited with a cousin. Indeed, at the end of the journey in Tobit 12, Tobit
and Tobias engage in an extensive discussion on how much to pay the
guide (12,1-5). Μισθός is a key narrative thread in the artistically woven
fabric of the story.
It is noteworthy that Tobit 5 and Tobit 12 are the two chapters each
with five occurrences of μισθός. The presence of the characters, Tobit,
Tobias and Rafael, and the references to wages mark these chapters as
bookends or an inclusio to the journey section of the narrative. In Tobit
5, Tobit orders Tobias to seek an ἄνθÏωπον πιστόν, which can be trans-
lated as faithful or trustworthy man (5,3). He promises to pay this trust-
worthy man normal wages plus expenses for each day he is away. If he
goes with his son to guide him along the road to Media (5,8-10), Tobit is
willing to add a bonus to his wages (5,15). Upon the successful return
home of Tobias, Tobit, intending to keep his end of the bargain, calls his
son to make sure that the faithful travel companion is given his due
μισθός. Since Tobit is still ignorant of the real circumstances and since