Women’s Roles in the Narrative and Theology of the Book of Tobit

Three women are involved in the narrative of the Book of Tobit, a fourth one is mentioned. These females represent three generations: grandmother, mother, daughter. The central role of woman is defined by her relation to man, that is being man's counterpart, i.e his wife. Therefore, right in the centre of the book, Gen 2:18 is quted from the tora and interpreted as the divine foundation of marriage. In addition, the concept of endogamy is important. The book presents two couples married for several years who are living in different circumstances and a young couple that gets married.