The Most High is literally, “the Highest.” This word is regularly used in the Greek Old Testament to translate a Hebrew term first used in Gen 14.18. Translations must not suggest that God is tall or lives on mountaintops, or that he is “higher” than other gods. It is a title designating God’s absolute, ultimate supremacy. Another way to express this title is “God who is above [or, more powerful than] all other gods.”

God gave Tobit favor and good standing with Shalmaneser, that is, God arranged it so that Shalmaneser would show Tobit favor. Good standing is literally “form,” but this is probably idiomatic for “God made me look good to Shalmaneser.” Good News Translation has “he made Emperor Shalmaneser respect me.” Other ways to express this are “God made King Shalmaneser pleased with me,” or in a number of Asian languages “God made King Shalmaneser lift my face,” or even “God let me have face before King Shalmaneser.” For Shalmaneser see the comment at verse 2.

I used to buy everything he needed: Tobit had clearly risen to a position of importance in the Assyrian government, one which required travel on royal business, as the next sentence shows. Good News Translation has “I was placed in charge of purchasing all the emperor’s supplies,” and Contemporary English Version “Shalmaneser even put me in charge of buying all the supplies for his palace.”

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.