Ahikar interceded for me: Good News Translation expresses this simply as “he put in a good word for me.” Ahikar is in a position to intercede in Tobit’s behalf, so that Tobit can return to Nineveh. Another way to express this clause is: “Ahikar talked to the emperor on my behalf and he let me return to Nineveh.”

Now Ahikar was chief cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administrations of the accounts: Ahikar is identified by a series of titles. The chief cupbearer (Good News Translation “wine steward”) was a royal official and advisor who served the king his wine (compare Neh 1.11). In some languages this may be expressed as “responsible for his wine.” The keeper of the signet had custody of the royal seal, making documents official. He was perhaps like the American Secretary of State, keeper of the Great Seal. The signet or “seal” was usually an object such as a small, semiprecious stone (often part of an official ring) that had writing cut into its surface. It was used to make an impression on some soft material such as clay or wax. In cultures where “seals” are unknown, something like “official ring” or “the emperor’s ring” is possible. As the one in charge of administrations of the accounts (Good News Translation “treasurer, and accountant”), Ahikar would have acted as Minister of Finance or Secretary of the Treasury. Good News Translation rearranges the material in this verse to sort out the complicated sequence of events. New Revised Standard Version would be clearer if it rendered the text “Now Ahikar had been chief cupbearer….”

It is a bit strange to have Ahikar identified first as a nephew and then as a close relative. Good News Translation omits the second expression. The New Revised Standard Version construction is helpful: He was my nephew and so a close relative. New American Bible is clever: “He was a close relative—in fact, my nephew.”

This concludes the first chapter, which provides the background that the writer wishes us to understand. The story itself will begin in chapter 2.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Tobit. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.