Tobit 5

New Catholic Bible

Tobiah’s Journey

Chapter 5

A Welcome and Mysterious Guide. ¹Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit, “I will do everything that you have commanded me, father. ²But how will I be able to retrieve the money from him inasmuch as he does not know me and I do not know him? What proof can I give him so that he can recognize me, trust me, and give me the money? And furthermore, I do not know what roads I must take to make this journey to Media.”

³Then Tobit answered his son Tobiah, “We each signed a document that I divided into two parts, one for each of us. I kept one part, and I put the other part with the money. Twenty years have now elapsed since I left this money in his care. So now, my son, you must find a trustworthy man who will accompany you. We will pay him wages until you return. But go and collect the money from Gabael.”^[a]

⁴So Tobiah went out to look for someone who knew the way to Media and would be willing to accompany him. Outside, he encountered the angel Raphael standing in front of him. Unaware that he was an angel of God, ⁵Tobiah said to him, “Where do you come from, young man?” “I am an Israelite, one of your kindred,” he replied. “I have come here to look for work.” Then Tobiah said to him, “Do you know the way to Media?”

⁶“Yes,” he answered. “I have been there many times. I am familiar with all the routes, and I know them well. I have often traveled to Media where I used to stay with Gabael, our kinsman who lives at Rages in Media. It generally takes two full days^[b] to travel from Ecbatana to Rages, inasmuch as Rages is situated in a mountainous area while Ecbatana is in the middle of a plain.”

⁷Tobiah said to him “Wait for me, young man, while I go inside and tell my father. I need you to travel with me, and I shall pay you for your time.” ⁸He replied, “Very well, I will wait for you, but do not be too long.”

⁹Tobiah went back inside to tell his father Tobit what had transpired. He said to him, “I have found a fellow Israelite to make the journey with me.” Tobit said, “Call the man inside, my son, so that I may find out about his family and ascertain to what tribe he belongs, to ensure that he will be a trustworthy traveling companion for you.” Tobiah went back outside and summoned him. He said, “Young man, my father would like to talk with you.”

¹⁰When Raphael entered the house, Tobit greeted him first. When Raphael said, “Joyous greetings to you,” Tobit replied, “What joy can I experience anymore? I am blind. I can no longer see the light of heaven. I live in darkness like the dead who no longer see the light. Though still alive, I am dead for all intents and purposes. I hear people speak but I cannot see them.” Raphael said, “Have courage! God in his providence will restore your sight. Have courage!”

Tobit then said, “My son Tobiah wishes to go to Media. Will you accompany him as his guide? I will pay your wages, brother.” “Yes,” he answered. “I can go with him. I am familiar with all the roads, for I have often been to Media. I have journeyed across all its plains and mountains, and I know all its roads.” ¹¹Tobit said, “Brother, tell me what family and tribe you belong to.” ¹²Raphael asked, “Why do you need to know my family and my tribe? Are you seeking a family and a tribe or a hired man to accompany your son on his journey?” Tobit answered, “I want to be quite sure whose son you are and what your name is.”

¹³Raphael replied, “I am Azariah,^[c] son of Hananiah the elder, one of your relatives.” ¹⁴Tobit said in answer, “Welcome! God save you, brother. Do not be offended at me for wanting to learn the truth about you and your family. As it so happens, you are a relative, and of a good and noble lineage. I knew Hananiah and Nathaniah, the two sons of Shemaiah the elder. They used to go on pilgrimage with me to Jerusalem, where we would worship together. They never strayed from the path of righteousness. Your kindred are worthy people. You indeed come of good stock. Welcome!”

¹⁵Then he added, “I will pay you a drachma^[d] a day and in addition allow you the same expenses as those for my son. If you go with my son, ¹⁶I will even add a bonus to your basic wages.” Raphael replied, “I will go with him, so have no fear. We will depart from you in good health, and we will return to you in good health, because the route is safe.” ¹⁷Tobit said, “God bless you, brother.”

Then Tobit called his son and said to him, “My son, prepare everything you need for the journey and set out with your kinsman. May God in heaven protect both of you on your journey there and return you to me safe and sound, and may his angel accompany you and ensure your safety, my son.”

Tobiah’s Leavetaking. Before departing on his journey, Tobiah kissed his father and mother. Tobit said to him, “Have a safe journey.” ¹⁸However, his mother began to weep, and she said to Tobit, “Why must you send my child away? Is he not the staff on whom we lean as he supports us in whatever we do? ¹⁹Do not pile money upon money. Rather let it serve as a ransom for our son. ²⁰Let us be content with the life that the Lord has provided for us.”

²¹“Do not worry,” Tobit replied. “Our son will depart from us in good health and will return to us in good health. Your eyes will see him on the day when he returns to you safe and sound. ²²So banish such thoughts. Do not be concerned about them, my sister. A good angel will accompany him, his journey will be successful, and he will return to us safe and sound.” ²³Then she stopped weeping.

Footnotes

Tobit 5:3 It is thus a question of the receipt that Tobit received from Gabael and of a voucher whose two parts had to match at the moment of verification.
Tobit 5:6 A detail that indicates a poor knowledge of geography. Far from taking only two full days, the 180-mile journey from Rages to Ecbatana took the army of Alexander the Great eleven days. All the author is interested in at this point is to show that Tobiah, aided by Raphael, had a practical knowledge of the area to which he was going.
Tobit 5:13 The names are symbolic and express the mission of the angel: Azariah signifies “help of God”; Hananiah, “grace of God.”
Tobit 5:15 A drachma was most likely a day’s wage for an artisan. This type of contract for a journey by horseback with a guide remained in use in the East up to the introduction of the automobile.

'Tobit 5 ' not found for the version: English Standard Version.

Tobit 5

Common English Bible

Azariah (Raphael) travels with Tobias to Media

5 Then Tobias said to his father Tobit, “I will do everything you have commanded me, Father. ²But how am I going to get it from Gabael, since he doesn’t know me and I don’t know him? What proof can I give him so that he will recognize and trust me and give me the money? Moreover, I don’t know the roads to take to get to Media.”

³Then Tobit said to his son Tobias, “He gave me a signed receipt, and I gave him a handwritten document as well. I divided them in two, and we each took one part, and I deposited one with the money. And now it is twenty years since I deposited this money. So then go find a reliable man who will go with you, and we will pay him for his time until you return. Then you can retrieve this money from Gabael.”

⁴Then Tobias went out to look for a man who knew the way to Media and would go with him. He went out and found the angel Raphael standing near him, but he didn’t know that he was an angel from God. ⁵Tobias said to him, “Where are you from, young man?”

He said to Tobias, “I am one of the Israelites, your relatives. I have come here to find work.”

Tobias said to him, “Do you know the way to Media?”

⁶He replied, “Yes, I have been there many times; I’m familiar with all the roads and know them well. Often I have gone to Media and have spent the night with Gabael, our relative, who lives in Ecbatana^[a] of Media. It is a good two days’ journey from Ecbatana to Rages,^[b] because it is located in a mountainous area while Ecbatana lies in the midst of a plain.”

⁷Tobias said to him, “Wait here for me, young man, until I go and report this to my father, because I need you to go with me, and I’ll pay your wages.”

⁸Raphael replied, “All right, I’ll wait. But don’t delay!”

⁹So Tobias went in and reported to his father Tobit, saying, “Wow, I’ve found a man from among our relatives the Israelites.”

Tobit said to Tobias, “Call the man in to me, my son,^[c] so that I learn who his family is, from which tribe he is, and whether he can be trusted to go with you.”

¹⁰So Tobias went out, called Raphael, and said to him, “Young man, my father is calling for you.” Raphael went in, and Tobit was the first to greet him.

Raphael^[d] said, “May joy be yours!”

Tobit responded, “What joy can there still be for me? My eyes are useless, and I can’t see the light of heaven. Instead, I lie in darkness just like the dead who no longer see the light. I live among the dead, hearing the sound of human beings without seeing them.”

Raphael said to him, “Take heart! The time is near when God will heal you. Take heart!”

Then Tobit said to him, “My son Tobias wants to go to Media. Brother, can you accompany and guide him? I will pay your wages.”

Raphael said to him, “I’m able to go with him, for I know all the roads and have often traveled to Media and have passed through all its plains. So I’m familiar with its mountains and all its roads.”

¹¹Tobit said to him, “Brother, which family and which tribe do you come from? Tell me, brother!”

¹²The young man answered, “Why do you need to know about my tribe?”

Tobit replied, “I would like to know in all honesty, brother, who your father is and what your name is.”

¹³Then he answered, “I’m Azariah, the great Hananiah’s son, one of your relatives.”

¹⁴Tobit said to him, “May you come in health and safety, brother! Don’t be offended, brother, that I wanted to know the truth about your family. But you happen to be a relative, and you are from a good and honorable heritage. I knew Hananiah and Nathan, the two sons of the great Shemeliah. They used to go with me to Jerusalem. They used to worship with me there and weren’t led astray. Your relatives are good men; you are of good stock, and may you feel welcome for coming here!”

¹⁵Then he added,^[e] “I will pay you a drachme a day as well as provide for your expenses just as for those of my son. So do go with my son, ¹⁶and I’ll give you additional pay.”

The young man replied, “I’ll go with him. Don’t be afraid; we’ll depart safely and we’ll return safely to you, because the road is secure.”

¹⁷Tobit answered, “Bless you, brother!”

Then Tobit called his son and said to him, “My child, prepare provisions for the trip and head off with your brother. May God who is in heaven protect you on your way and restore you safely to me. May his angel travel with you and protect you, my child.”

He went to begin his journey, and he kissed his father and mother. Tobit said to him, “Travel safely!”

¹⁸His mother began to weep and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent my child away? Isn’t he the staff on which we lean^[f] as he comes and goes in our presence? ¹⁹Don’t make money more important than it is;^[g] instead, let it be ransom for our child’s sake. ²⁰It’s enough for us to live as the Lord has provided.”

²¹Tobit said to her, “Don’t make such an issue of it! Our child will go safely and will come safely back to us. Your eyes will see him on the day he returns to you safe and sound. Don’t overreact, and don’t be afraid for them, my sister! ²²A good angel will go with him, his journey will prosper, and he will return safely.”