Tobiah’s Journey
Chapter 5
A Welcome and Mysterious Guide. 1 Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit, “I will do everything that you have commanded me, father. 2 But 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.”
3 Then 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]
4 So 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, 5 Tobiah 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.”
7 Tobiah 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.” 8 He replied, “Very well, I will wait for you, but do not be too long.”
9 Tobiah 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.”
10 When 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.” 11 Tobit said, “Brother, tell me what family and tribe you belong to.” 12 Raphael 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.”
13 Raphael replied, “I am Azariah,[c] son of Hananiah the elder, one of your relatives.” 14 Tobit 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!”
15 Then 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, 16 I 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.” 17 Tobit 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.” 18 However, 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? 19 Do not pile money upon money. Rather let it serve as a ransom for our son. 20 Let 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. 22 So 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.” 23 Then 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.