A bright light will shine to all parts of the earth; many nations shall come to you from afar, And the inhabitants of all the limits of the earth, drawn to you by the name of the Lord God, Bearing in their hands their gifts for the King of heaven. Every generation shall give joyful praise in you, and shall call you the chosen one, through all ages forever. Accursed are all who speak a harsh word against you; accursed are all who destroy you and pull down your walls, And all who overthrow your towers and set fire to your homes; but forever blessed are all those who build you up. Go, then, rejoice over the children of the righteous, who shall all be gathered together and shall bless the Lord of the ages. (Tobit 13:11-13)

To what does the pronoun "you" refer?

The immediately prior verses were addressed to "O Jerusalem," which has been destroyed. The Temple of stone has been replaced by a renewed Tent of the Presence.

But in the specific context of the story Jerusalem has not yet been destroyed. Tobit has been exiled with the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Southern Kingdom and its capital will remain free for almost two more centuries.

Because Tobit was written nearly 500 years later his readers know Jerusalem will be destroyed. But if the "you" refers to a restored Jerusalem or a restored nation, why the distinction between the temple and the tent? The readers also know that Nehemiah restored the temple.

Might this Jerusalem and this "you" be a metaphor for Tobit: his own rigid designs and expectations torn down, foggy confusion replaced with bright light, prideful separation replaced with loving relationship. Might this "you" refer to the destruction of his former self and restoration of his true self?

Might this "you" refer to you and me?