I. ANNA, the Wife of Tobit, of the Tribe of Nephthali, who was carried in captivity to Nineveh by Salmanesar King of Assyria. After that Tobit had lost his sight, and was fallen into poverty, Anna found her self obliged to go every day to get her livelihood by spinning; and what she earned by the labour of her hands, she brought home for the subsistence of her family. One day, having received a kid, she conveyed it to her house, and Tobit having heard it, said, Take care that this kid be not stolen; send it back to those who own it. To which Anna with great passion replied, Where then is the reward of thine alms? and what are become of all thine hopes? Thus was the patience of Tobit tried amidst his other afflictions.
Some time after, Tobit believing himself to be near his end, called his Son Tobias, and charged him to have always a Tobit xiv. 12.great respect for his Mother; and to remember all that she had done and suffered for him. Last of all he added, When the course of her life is finished, bury her near me. Tobit lived still a great while after this, and Anna his Wife survived him. Some few moments before his death he repeated the request he had made before to Tobias, of placing his Wife Anna near him in his grave, after his decease. Tobit died about the year of the World 3363. before J. C. 637. before the vulgar Æra 641. Anna therefore must have died after this time, but before 3378. which was the year wherein Nineveh was taken: for Tobias left this City before it was taken, as his Father had forewarned him it would be.