Tobit 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Angel Raphael
5 Then Tobias answered his father Tobit, “I will do everything that you have commanded me, father, 2 but how can I obtain the money[a] from him, since he does not know me and I do not know him? What evidence[b] am I to give him so that he will recognize and trust me and give me the money? Also, I do not know the roads to Media or how to get there.” 3 Then Tobit answered his son Tobias, “He gave me his bond, and I gave him my bond. I[c] divided his in two; we each took one part, and I put one with the money. And now twenty years have passed since I left this money in trust. So now, my son, find yourself a trustworthy man to go with you, and we will pay him wages until you return. But get back the money from Gabael.”[d](A)
4 So Tobias went out to look for a man to go with him to Media, someone who was acquainted with the way. He went out and found the angel Raphael standing in front of him, but he did not perceive that he was an angel of God.(B) 5 Tobias[e] said to him, “Where do you come from, young man?” “From the Israelites, your kindred,” he replied, “and I have come here to work.” Then Tobias[f] said to him, “Do you know the way to go to Media?”(C) 6 “Yes,” he replied, “I have been there many times; I am acquainted with it and know all the roads. I have often traveled to Media and would stay with our kinsman Gabael who lives in Rages of Media. It is a journey of two days from Ecbatana to Rages, for it lies in a mountainous area, while Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain.” 7 Then Tobias said to him, “Wait for me, young man, until I go in and tell my father, for I do need you to travel with me, and I will pay you your wages.” 8 He replied, “All right, I will wait, but do not take too long.”
9 So Tobias went in to tell his father Tobit and said to him, “I have just found a man who is one of our own Israelite kindred!” He replied, “Call the man in so that I may learn about his people and to what tribe he belongs and whether he is trustworthy enough to go with you, my son.”
10 Then 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, “Many greetings to you!” But Tobit retorted, “What is left for me to greet 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’s voices, but I cannot see them.” But the young man[g] 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. I have often gone to Media, have crossed all its plains, and am familiar with its mountains and all of its roads.”
11 Then Tobit[h] said to him, “Brother, of what family are you and from what tribe? Tell me, brother.” 12 He replied, “Why do you need to know my tribe and lineage? Are you seeking an employee or a tribe and lineage?”[i] But Tobit[j] said, “I want to be sure, brother, whose son you are and what your name is.” 13 He replied, “I am Azariah, the son of the elder Hananiah, one of your relatives.” 14 Then Tobit[k] said to him, “You are very welcome, brother. Do not feel bitter toward me, brother, because I wanted to be sure about your family. It turns out that you are a kinsman and of good and noble lineage. For I knew Hananiah and Nathan, the two sons of the elder Shemeliah,[l] and they used to go with me to Jerusalem and worship with me there; they were not led astray. Your kindred are good people; you are of good stock. Welcome!”(D)
15 Then 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,(E) 16 and I will add something to your wages.” Raphael[m] 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.” 17 So Tobit[n] said to him, “Blessings be upon you, brother.”
Then he called his son and said to him, “Make preparations for the journey, my son, 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[o] went out to start his journey, he kissed his father and mother. Tobit then said to him, “Have a safe journey.”(F)
18 But his mother began to weep and said to Tobit, “Why is it that you have sent my son away? Is he not the staff of our hand as he goes in and out before us?(G) 19 Do not heap money upon money, but let it be a ransom for our son. 20 The life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us.” 21 Tobit[p] said to her, “Do not worry; our son 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,(H) 22 for a good angel will accompany him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back in good health.”(I)
Footnotes
- 5.2 Gk it
- 5.2 Gk sign
- 5.3 Other authorities read He
- 5.3 Gk from him
- 5.5 Gk He
- 5.5 Gk he
- 5.10 Gk he
- 5.11 Gk he
- 5.12 OL: S lacks and lineage? Are you seeking an employee or a tribe and lineage?
- 5.12 Gk he
- 5.14 Gk he
- 5.14 Other ancient authorities read Shemaiah
- 5.16 Gk He
- 5.17 Gk he
- 5.17 Other ancient authorities read So he made preparations for the journey and
- 5.21 Gk He
Tobit 5
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
5 Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.
2 But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.
3 Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.
4 But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.
5 Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.
6 And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?
7 But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?
8 And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.
9 And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.
10 Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.
11 So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.
12 And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?
13 And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.
14 And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.
15 And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.
16 And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?
17 And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?
18 But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.
19 And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.
20 And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.
21 And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.
22 Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.
23 And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.
24 I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.
25 For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.
26 And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.
27 For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.
28 At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.
Tobit 5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 5
The Angel Raphael. 1 Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit: “Everything that you have commanded me, father, I shall do. 2 But how will I be able to get that money from him, since he does not know me, and I do not know him? What sign can I give him so that he will recognize and trust me, and give me the money? I do not even know the roads to Media, in order to go there.” 3 Tobit answered his son Tobiah: “He gave me his bond,[a] and I gave him mine; I divided his into two parts, and each of us took one part; I put one part with the money. It is twenty years since I deposited that money! So, son, find yourself a trustworthy person who will make the journey with you, and we will give him wages when you return; but bring back that money from Gabael while I am still alive.”
4 Tobiah went out to look for someone who would travel with him to Media, someone who knew the way. He went out and found the angel Raphael standing before him (though he did not know[b] that this was an angel of God).(A) 5 Tobiah said to him, “Where do you come from, young man?” He replied, “I am an Israelite, one of your kindred. I have come here to work.” Tobiah said to him, “Do you know the way to Media?” 6 “Yes,” he replied, “I have been there many times. I know the place well and am acquainted with all the routes. I have often traveled to Media; I used to stay with our kinsman Gabael, who lives at Rages in Media. It is a good two days’ journey from Ecbatana to Rages,[c] for Rages is situated in the mountains, but Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain.” 7 Tobiah said to him, “Wait for me, young man, till I go in and tell my father; for I need you to make the journey with me. I will pay you your wages.”(B) 8 He replied, “Very well, I will wait; but do not be long.”
9 Tobiah went in and informed his father Tobit: “I have found someone of our own Israelite kindred who will go with me!” Tobit said, “Call the man in, so that I may find out from what family and tribe he comes, and whether he is trustworthy enough to travel with you, son.”
10 Tobiah went out to summon him, saying, “Young man, my father is calling for you.” When Raphael entered the house, Tobit greeted him first. He replied, “Joyful greetings to you!” Tobit answered, “What joy is left for me? Here I am, a blind man who cannot see the light of heaven, but must remain in darkness, like the dead who no longer see the light! Though alive, I am among the dead. I can hear people’s voices, but I do not see them.” The young man said, “Take courage! God’s healing is near; so take courage!” Tobit then said: “My son Tobiah wants to go to Media. Can you go with him to show him the way? I will pay you your wages, brother.” He answered: “Yes, I will go with him, and I know all the routes. I have often traveled to Media and crossed all its plains so I know well the mountains and all its roads.” 11 Tobit asked him, “Brother, tell me, please, from what family and tribe are you?” 12 He replied, “Why? What need do you have for a tribe? Aren’t you looking for a hired man?” Tobit replied, “I only want to know, brother, whose son you truly are and what your name is.”(C)
13 He answered, “I am Azariah,[d] son of the great Hananiah, one of your own kindred.” 14 Tobit exclaimed: “Welcome! God save you, brother! Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family. It turns out that you are a kinsman, from a noble and good line! I knew Hananiah and Nathan, the two sons of the great Shemeliah. They used to go to Jerusalem with me, where we would worship together. They were not led astray; your kindred are good people. You are certainly of good lineage. So welcome!”
15 Then he added: “For each day I will give you a drachma as wages,[e] as well as expenses for you and for my son. So go with my son, and 16 I will even add a bonus to your wages!” The young man replied: “I will go with him. Do not fear. In good health we will leave you, and in good health we will return to you, for the way is safe.” 17 Tobit said, “Blessing be upon you, brother.” Then he called his son and said to him: “Son, prepare whatever you need for the journey, and set out with your kinsman. May God in heaven protect you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; may his angel accompany you for your safety, son.”
Tobiah left to set out on his journey, and he kissed his father and mother. Tobit said to him, “Have a safe journey.” 18 But his mother began to weep and she said to Tobit: “Why have you sent my child away? Is he not the staff of our hands, as he goes in and out before us? 19 Do not heap money upon money! Rather relinquish it in exchange for our child! 20 What the Lord has given us to live on is certainly enough for us.” 21 Tobit reassured her: “Do not worry! Our son will leave in good health and come back to us in good health. Your own eyes will see the day when he returns to you safe and sound. So, do not worry; do not fear for them, my sister.[f] 22 For a good angel[g] will go with him, his journey will be successful, and he will return in good health.” 1 Then she stopped weeping.
Footnotes
- 5:3 Bond: a document called in Greek cheirographon. In the Middle Ages, notably in England, a deed and its duplicate were written on one piece of parchment, with the Latin word chirographum inscribed across the top of the sheet or between the two copies of the text. The document was then cut in two in either a straight or a wavy line, the parts being given to the persons concerned. Perhaps this procedure was derived from the present verse of Tobit. Duplicate documents, usually one part open and the other sealed, are well known from the ancient Near East.
- 5:4 He did not know: the theme of an angel in disguise occurs frequently in folklore as well as in the Old Testament (Gn 18; cf. Hb 13:2).
- 5:6 It is a good two days’ journey from Ecbatana to Rages: Alexander’s army took eleven days in forced marches to cover this distance, about 180 miles. (See notes on 1:15; 3:7 and Introduction.)
- 5:13–14 Azariah, “Yhwh has helped”; Hananiah, “Yhwh has shown mercy”; Nathan is a shortened form of Nathaniah, “Yhwh has given”; Shemeliah may be a Greek corruption of the Hebrew name, Shemaiah, “Yhwh has heard.”
- 5:15 A drachma as wages: the normal wages, about seventeen cents, a day’s wage for a laborer.
- 5:21 My sister: “sister” was a term of endearment used in antiquity even for one’s wife; similarly “brother” for one’s husband. Cf. 7:11, 15; 8:4, 21; 10:6, 13; Sg 4:9–10, 12; 5:1–2.
- 5:22 A good angel: a reference to a guardian angel, though Tobit does not know, of course, that Raphael himself, disguised as Azariah, is the good angel in this case.
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