10Then Tobias went out and called him, and said, “Young man, my father is calling for you.” So he went in to him, and Tobit greeted him first. He replied, “Joyous greetings to you!” But Tobit retorted, “What joy is left for me any more? I am a man without eyesight; I cannot see the light of heaven, but I lie in darkness like the dead who no longer see the light. Although still alive, I am among the dead. I hear people but I cannot see them.” But the young manh said, “Take courage; the time is near for God to heal you; take courage.” Then Tobit said to him, “My son Tobias wishes to go to Media. Can you accompany him and guide him? I will pay your wages, brother.” He answered, “I can go with him and I know all the roads, for I have often gone to Media and have crossed all its plains, and I am familiar with its mountains and all of its roads.”
11Then Tobiti said to him, “Brother, of what family are you and from what tribe? Tell me, brother.” 12He replied, “Why do you need to know my tribe?” But Tobitj said, “I want to be sure, brother, whose son you are and what your name is.” 13He replied, “I am Azariah, the son of the great Hananiah, one of your relatives.” 14Then Tobit said to him, “Welcome! God save you, brother. Do not feel bitter toward me, brother, because I wanted to be sure about your ancestry. It turns out that you are a kinsman, and of good and noble lineage. For I knew Hananiah and Nathan,k the two sons of Shemeliah,l and they used to go with me to Jerusalem and worshiped with me there, and were not led astray. Your kindred are good people; you come of good stock. Hearty welcome!”
15Then he added, “I will pay you a drachma a day as wages, as well as expenses for yourself and my son. So go with my son, 16andm I will add something to your wages.” Raphaeln answered, “I will go with him; so do not fear. We shall leave in good health and return to you in good health, because the way is safe.” 17So Tobito said to him, “Blessings be upon you, brother.”
Then he called his son and said to him, “Son, prepare supplies for the journey and set out with your brother. May God in heaven bring you safely there and return you in good health to me; and may his angel, my son, accompany you both for your safety.”
Before he went out to start his journey, he kissed his father and mother. Tobit then said to him, “Have a safe journey.”
18But his mothera began to weep, and said to Tobit, “Why is it that you have sent my child away? Is he not the staff of our hand as he goes in and out before us? 19Do not heap money upon money, but let it be a ransom for our child. 20For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us.” 21Tobitb said to her, “Do not worry; our child will leave in good health and return to us in good health. Your eyes will see him on the day when he returns to you in good health. Say no more! Do not fear for them, my sister. 22For a good angel will accompany him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back in good health.”
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a Gk it
b Gk sign
c Other authorities read He
d Gk from him
e Gk He
f Gk he
g Gk he
h Gk he
i Gk he
j Gk he
k Other ancient authorities read Jathan or Nathaniah
l Other ancient authorities read Shemaiah
m Other ancient authorities add when you return safely
n Gk He
o Gk he
5.4–17a Tobias’s need for a traveling companion (see 1.15) is met by the angel Raphael, who is conveniently waiting outside the door. Stories about the appearance (epiphany) of a divine being are frequent in the Bible (e.g., Gen 18.1–15; Judg 13; Lk 1.8–23, 26–38) and elsewhere in antiquity (e.g., books 1–3 of the Odyssey, where Athena travels with Telemachus). The conversation between Raphael and the two Israelites is a storyteller’s delight. The divine being cannot reveal his identity and must resort to double entendres, white lies, and half-truths, while Tobit is unaware of the real truth of some of his own utterances.
5.5 Given Raphael’s real identity, his conversation with Tobias is a charade, although it is true that he has come here to work.
5.6 Raphael’s angelic missions have doubtless taken him to Media.
5.10 Take courage, a typical admonition in epiphanies (Joseph and Aseneth 14.11; 15.2–5).
5.11–14 Tobit’s queries are irrelevant, although his conclusion that “Azariah’s” kindred are good people and he comes of good stock is true in a way he cannot imagine (cf. 5.22).
5.13 The names Azariah (Hebrew, “Yahweh has helped”) and Hananiah (“Yahweh has had mercy”) symbolize a situation Tobit does not understand.
5.17a Readers are to smile at Tobit’s wish that an angel accompany Tobias and “Azariah.”
5.17b–6.1a Tobit’s and Anna’s contrasting attitudes toward their son’s departure are in character. Cf. 10.1–7.
Tobit 6
Journey to Rages
1So she stopped weeping.
The young man went out and the angel went with him; 2and the dog came out with him and went along with them. So they both journeyed along, and when the first night overtook them they camped by the Tigris river. 3Then the young man went down to wash his feet in the Tigris river. Suddenly a large fish leaped up from the water and tried to swallow the young man’s foot, and he cried out. 4But the angel said to the young man, “Catch hold of the fish and hang on to it!” So the young man grasped the fish and drew it up on the land. 5Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take out its gall, heart, and liver. Keep them with you, but throw away the intestines. For its gall, heart, and liver are useful as medicine.” 6So after cutting open the fish the young man gathered together the gall, heart, and liver; then he roasted and ate some of the fish, and kept some to be salted.
The two continued on their way together until they were near Media.c 7Then the young man questioned the angel and said to him, “Brother Azariah, what medicinal value is there in the fish’s heart and liver, and in the gall?” 8He replied, “As for the fish’s heart and liver, you must burn them to make a smoke in the presence of a man or woman afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, and every affliction will flee away and never remain with that person any longer. 9And as for the gall, anoint a person’s eyes where white films have appeared on them; blow upon them, upon the white films, and the eyesd will be healed.”
Raphael’s Instructions
10When he entered Media and already was approaching Ecbatana,e 11Raphael said to the young man, “Brother Tobias.” “Here I am,” he answered. Then Raphaelf said to him, “We must stay this night in the home of Raguel. He is your relative, and he has a daughter named Sarah. 12He has no male heir and no daughter except Sarah only, and you, as next of kin to her, have before all other men a hereditary claim on her. Also it is right for you to inherit her father’s possessions. Moreover, the girl is sensible, brave, and very beautiful, and her father is a good man.” 13He continued, “You have every right to take her in marriage. So listen to me, brother; tonight I will speak to her father about the girl, so that we may take her to be your bride. When we return from Rages we will celebrate her marriage. For I know that Raguel can by no means keep her from you or promise her to another man without incurring the penalty of death according to the decree of the book of Moses. Indeed he knows that you, rather than any other man, are entitled to marry his daughter. So now listen to me, brother, and tonight we shall speak concerning the girl and arrange her engagement to you. And when we return from Rages we will take her and bring her back with us to your house.”
14Then Tobias said in answer to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, I have heard that she already has been married to seven husbands and that they died in the bridal chamber. On the night when they went in to her, they would die. I have heard people saying that it was a demon that killed them. 15It does not harm her, but it kills anyone who desires to approach her. So now, since I am the only son my father has, I am afraid that I may die and bring my father’s and mother’s life down to their grave, grieving for me—an
d they have no other son to bury them.”
16But Raphaelg said to him, “Do you not remember your father’s orders when he commanded you to take a wife from your father’s house? Now listen to me, brother, and say no more about this demon. Take her. I know that this very night she will be given to you in marriage. 17When you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the fish’s liver and heart, and put them on the embers of the incense. An odor will be given off; 18the demon will smell it and flee, and will never be seen near her any more. Now when you are about to go to bed with her, both of you must first stand up and pray, imploring the Lord of heaven that mercy and safety may be granted to you. Do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world was made. You will save her, and she will go with you. I presume that you will have children by her, and they will be as brothers to you. Now say no more!” When Tobias heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his kinswoman,h related through his father’s lineage, he loved her very much, and his heart was drawn to her.
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a Other ancient authorities add Anna
b Gk He
c Other ancient authorities read Ecbatana
d Gk they
e Other ancient authorities read Rages
f Gk he
g Gk he
h Gk sister
6.1b–9 The journey to Rages has several functions. Most obviously, it is the narrative device that gets Tobias to his money, his bride, and the magical devices that will heal Sarah and Tobit. It also has symbolic overtones. Readers see how God literally makes the paths of the righteous prosper (cf. 4.19), and the presence of Raphael recalls the notion that a good angel guides one along the paths of righteousness (cf. Dead Sea Scrolls Rule of the Community [1QS] 3.18–4.6; Letter of Barnabas 18; Hermas, Mandates 6.2). On the angelic guide, cf. Ex 23.20; 1 Enoch 20–33.
6.3–6 Again God intervenes, this time by providing a large fish (cf. Jon 1.17).
6.10–18 The author now reveals the real purposes for the journey. In addition to finding the medicine to heal Tobit (v. 9), Tobias will rid Sarah of her demon, and each will find in the other the kind of spouse recommended by Tobit (4.12–13) and the very spouse foreordained by God. Recovering the money from Gabael is a bonus. The section is rich in psychological insight.
6.11 “Azariah” plays the marriage broker (cf. Gen 24, where the servant may be Eliezer, which means in Hebrew “El is my help”).
6.14–18 Tobias’s hesitation is not simply self-serving; it reflects concern for his parents, which Raphael cleverly parries by reference to his father’s command.
6.18 The youth’s acquiescence is remarkable, given that he is unaware of his companion’s real identity, but his trust in the Lord of Heaven carries him through the dilemma. Do not be afraid, typical vocabulary of epiphanies (cf. Lk 1.13, 30).
Tobit 7
Arrival at Home of Raguel
1Now when theya entered Ecbatana, Tobiasb said to him, “Brother Azariah, take me straight to our brother Raguel.” So he took him to Raguel’s house, where they found him sitting beside the courtyard door. They greeted him first, and he replied, “Joyous greetings, brothers; welcome and good health!” Then he brought them into his house. 2He said to his wife Edna, “How much the young man resembles my kinsman Tobit!” 3Then Edna questioned them, saying, “Where are you from, brothers?” They answered, “We belong to the descendants of Naphtali who are exiles in Nineveh.” 4She said to them, “Do you know our kinsman Tobit?” And they replied, “Yes, we know him.” Then she asked them, “Is hec in good health?” 5They replied, “He is alive and in good health.” And Tobias added, “He is my father!” 6At that Raguel jumped up and kissed him and wept. 7He also spoke to him as follows, “Blessings on you, my child, son of a good and noble father!d O most miserable of calamities that such an upright and beneficent man has become blind!” He then embraced his kinsman Tobias and wept. 8His wife Edna also wept for him, and their daughter Sarah likewise wept. 9Then Raguele slaughtered a ram from the flock and received them very warmly.
Marriage of Tobias and Sarah
When they had bathed and washed themselves and had reclined to dine, Tobias said to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me my kinswomanf Sarah.” 10But Raguel overheard it and said to the lad, “Eat and drink, and be merry tonight. For no one except you, brother, has the right to marry my daughter Sarah. Likewise I am not at liberty to give her to any other man than yourself, because you are my nearest relative. But let me explain to you the true situation more fully, my child. 11I have given her to seven men of our kinsmen, and all died on the night when they went in to her. But now, my child, eat and drink, and the Lord will act on behalf of you both.” But Tobias said, “I will neither eat nor drink anything until you settle the things that pertain to me.” So Raguel said, “I will do so. She is given to you in accordance with the decree in the book of Moses, and it has been decreed from heaven that she be given to you. Take your kinswoman;g from now on you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from today and forever. May the Lord of heaven, my child, guide and prosper you both this night and grant you mercy and peace.” 12Then Raguel summoned his daughter Sarah. When she came to him he took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias,h saying, “Take her to be your wife in accordance with the law and decree written in the book of Moses. Take her and bring her safely to your father. And may the God of heaven prosper your journey with his peace.” 13Then he called her mother and told her to bring writing material; and he wrote out a copy of a marriage contract, to the effect that he gave her to him as wife according to the decree of the law of Moses. 14Then they began to eat and drink.
15Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, “Sister, get the other room ready, and take her there.” 16So she went and made the bed in the room as he had told her, and brought Sarahi there. She wept for her daughter.j Then, wiping away the tears,k she said to her, “Take courage, my daughter; the Lord of heaven grant you joyl in place of your sorrow. Take courage, my daughter.” Then she went out.
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a Other ancient authorities read he
b Gk he
c Other ancient authorities add alive and
d Other ancient authorities add When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept. Then he said,
e Gk he
f Gk sister
g Gk sister
h Gk him
i Gk her
j Gk her
k Other ancient authorities read the tears of her daughter
l Other ancient authorities read favor
7.1–9a The arrival of Tobias and “Azariah” at Raguel’s house is marked by a concern about family ties and well-being.
7.7 Raguel echoes a major motif in the story when he observes that Tobit’s blindness is incongruous for one who is upright and beneficent.
7.9b–16 Raphael, Raguel, and Tobias now work out the details of the marriage. The narrative seems to reflect actual customs of hospitality: greetings, ablutions, and a sumptuous meal (cf. Gen 18.1–8; Lk 7.44) for males only (see vv. 12–13).
7.9b One normally did not discuss business before the meal; Tobias’s breach of etiquette underscores the urgency of his request.
7.10 Raguel’s suggestion to eat and drink, and be merry may be an ironic reformulation of the familiar aphorism. If past events are any indicator, tomorrow Sarah’s new husband will be dead. See Lk 12.19–20 for a similar ironic reformulation. The narrative presumes throughout the law of levirate marriage (Deut 25.5–10). Although such marriage was a duty, honesty leads Raguel to offer Tobias the option to decline.
7.11–12 Raguel’s assertion that the Lord will act on behalf of…both and his wish that the Lord grant…mercy and peace suggest that his pessimism, which will return in 8.9–10, is momentarily tempered. The titles Lord of Heaven and God of Heaven are typical of contemporary Mesopotamian documents (cf. Dan 2.19, 37, 44; 5.23). In Tobit th
e titles appear primarily in quasi-liturgical formulas of blessing (see 5.17; 6.18; 7.16; 8.15; 9.6; 10.11–13).
7.16 Edna also vacillates between sorrow and hope. Her repeated take courage may translate the same Aramaic phrase as Raphael’s do not be afraid (6.18), spoken to Tobias on the same subject.
Tobit 8
Tobias Routs the Demon
1When they had finished eating and drinking they wanted to retire; so they took the young man and brought him into the bedroom. 2Then Tobias remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the fish’s liver and heart out of the bag where he had them and put them on the embers of the incense. 3The odor of the fish so repelled the demon that he fled to the remotest partsa of Egypt. But Raphael followed him, and at once bound him there hand and foot.
4When the parentsb had gone out and shut the door of the room, Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah,c “Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety.” 5So she got up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. Tobiasd began by saying,
“Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors,
and blessed is your name in all generations forever.
Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever.
6You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve
as a helper and support.
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