The Book of Tobit (Tobias)

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- Kapitel 5 -

Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertakes this office.

Then Tobias responded to his father, and he said: “I will do everything just as you have instructed me, father.

But I do not know how to obtain this money. He does not know me, and I do not know him. What proof shall I give to him? And I do not know any part of the way, which leads to that place.”

Then his father answered him, and he said: “Indeed, I have a written agreement about that in my possession, which, when you show it to him, he will immediately repay it.(a)

But go out now, and inquire after some faithful man, who would go with you to keep you safe in return for his wages, so that you may receive it while I am still alive.”

Then Tobias, departing, found a splendid young man, standing girded and seemingly ready for travel.

And not knowing that he was an Angel of God, he greeted him, and he said, “Where are you from, good young man?”

And so he answered, “From the sons of Israel.” And Tobias said to him, “Do you know the way that leads to the region of the Medes?”

And he answered: “I know it. And I have frequently walked through all its paths, and I stayed with Gabael, our brother, who lives in Rages, a city of the Medes, which is situated at the mount of Ecbatana.”

Tobias said to him, “I implore you, wait here for me, until I tell these same things to my father.”

Then Tobias, entering, revealed all these things to his father. Upon which, his father, in admiration, asked that he would enter to him.

And so, entering, he greeted him, and he said, “May gladness be always with you.”

And Tobit said, “What kind of gladness will be for me, since I sit in darkness and do not see the light of heaven?”

And the young man said to him, “Be steadfast in soul. Your cure from God is near.”

And so Tobit said to him, “Are you able to lead my son to Gabael in Rages, a city of the Medes? And when you return, I will pay you your wages.”

And the Angel said to him, “I will lead him, and I will bring him back to you.”

And Tobit responded to him, “I ask you to tell me: which family or which tribe are you from?”

And Raphael the Angel said, “Do you seek the family of the one you hire, or else the hired hand himself, to go with your son?

But, lest perhaps I cause you to worry: I am Azariah, the son of Hananiah the great.”(b)

(c)

And Tobit responded, “You are from a great family. But I ask you, do not be angry that I wanted to know your family.”

But the Angel said to him, “I will lead your son safely, and I will bring him back safely to you.”

And so Tobit, answering, said, “May you walk well, and may God be with you on your journey, and may his Angel accompany you.”

Then, when all things were ready which were to be carried on their journey, Tobias said farewell to his father, and to his mother, and the two of them walked together.

And when they had set out, his mother began to weep, and to say: “You have taken the staff of our old age, and you have sent him away from us.

I wish that the money, for which you sent him, had never been.

For our poverty has been sufficient for us, so that we might count it as riches that we saw our son.”

And Tobit said to her: “Do not weep. Our son will arrive safely, and he will return safely to us, and your eyes shall see him.

For I believe that the good Angel of God accompanies him and that he orders all things well which occur around him, such that he will be returned to us with gladness.”

At these words, his mother ceased weeping, and she was silent.

Fußnoten

(a)5:3 In this context, a ‘chirographum’ is not merely a written or handwritten note, but a written agreement. It is similar to a modern-day contract or loan agreement.(Conte)

(b)5:18 Angels of God cannot lie. Therefore, Raphael is, in some sense, Azariah, the son of Hananiah the great. Azariah is a name meaning ‘Yahweh helps,’ which is an apt description of Raphael. Hananiah is a name meaning ‘Yahweh is merciful,’ which is an apt description of God himself. The Angels are sons of God. And he calls Hananiah ‘the great’ because he is using that name to refer to God himself. God is great.(Conte)

(c)5:18 Azarias:The angel took the form of Azarias: and therefore might call himself by the name of the man whom he personated. Azarias, in Hebrew, signifies the help of God, and Ananias the grace of God.(Challoner)

Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertakes this office.

Then Tobias answered and said to him, “Father, I will do all things, whatever you have commanded me.

But how could I receive the money, since I don’t know him?”

He gave him the handwriting, and said to him, “Seek a man who will go with you, and I will give him wages, while I still live; and go and receive the money.”

He went to seek a man, and found Raphael who was an angel;

and he didn’t know it. He said to him, “Can I go with you to Rages of Media? Do you know those places well?”

The angel said to him, “I will go with you. I know the way well. I have lodged with our brother Gabael.”

Tobias said to him, “Wait for me, and I will tell my father.”

He said to him, “Go, and don’t wait. And he went in and said to his father, “Behold, I have found someone who will go with me.” But he said, “Call him to me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trustworthy man to go with you.”

So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.

And Tobit said to him, “Brother, of what tribe and of what family are you? Tell me.”

He said to him, “Do you seek a tribe and a family, or a hired man which will go with your son?” And Tobit said to him, “I want to know, brother, your kindred and your name.”

And he said, “I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, of your kindred.”

And he said to him, “Welcome, brother. Don’t be angry with me, because I sought to know your tribe and family. You are my brother, of an honest and good lineage; for I knew Ananias and Jathan, the sons of Shemaiah the great, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of our increase; and they didn’t go astray in the error of our kindred. My brother, you are of a great stock.

But tell me, what wages shall I give you? A drachma a day, and those things that be necessary for you, as to my son?

And moreover, if you both return safe and sound, I will add something to your wages.”

And so they agreed. And he said to Tobias, “Prepare yourself for the journey. May God prosper you.” So his son prepared what was needful for the journey, and his father said to him, “Go with this man; but God, who dwells in heaven, will prosper your journey. May his angel go with you.” Then they both departed, and the young man’s dog went with them.

But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent away our child? Isn’t he the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us?

Don’t be greedy to add money to money; but let it be as refuse compared to our child.

For what the Lord has given us to live is enough for us.”

Tobit said to her, “Don’t worry, my sister. He will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him.

For a good angel will go with him. His journey will be prospered, and he will return safe and sound.”

So she stopped weeping.