1-2 Tobit was 62 years old when he became blind, but after his sight had been restored, he lived a very full life. Once again he gave generously to the poor, and he continued to praise God and tell of his greatness. Tobit died a peaceful death at the age of 112, and was given an honourable burial in Nineveh.
3 But just before Tobit died, he sent for his son Tobias and told him,
4 “My son, take your children and go at once to Media. I believe that God's judgement which his prophet Nahum announced against Nineveh is about to take place. Everything that God's prophets told Israel about Nineveh and Assyria will happen. It will all come true, every word of it, when the right time comes. I am absolutely convinced that everything God has said is sure to come true. God does not break his promises. It will be safer for you in Media than in Assyria or Babylon.“Our fellow-Jews who live in Israel will all be scattered and taken from that good land into exile. All Israel will become a wilderness; Samaria and Jerusalem will be abandoned cities. God's Temple will be burnt to the ground and will lie in complete ruin for a while.
5 But God will have mercy on his people again, and he will bring them back to the land of Israel. They will rebuild the Temple, but it will not be as splendid as the first Temple, not until the proper time has come. But when that time does come, all the people of Israel will return from exile, and they will rebuild the city of Jerusalem in all its former splendour. They will rebuild God's temple in Jerusalem, just as Israel's prophets have foretold.