He began to worry is a literal rendering. There was no reason to worry until Tobias had had time to go, do all the business, and return. Now Tobit is starting to get worried.

It is possible to consider verse 2 as voicing Tobit’s worry; so we may combine verses 2 and 3 as follows:

• He became so worried that he said to his wife, “Is it possible that something is preventing Tobias from returning? Maybe Gabael is dead, and there is no one else to give him the money.”

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.