Tobit and Anna are worried about their son (Tob 10:1-10:7)

“Now, day by day, Tobit kept counting how many days Tobias would need for going and returning. When the days had expired and his son did not appear, he said.

‘Is it possible that he has been detained?

Or is it possible that Gabael has died?

Perhaps there is no one to give him the money?’

He began to worry. His wife Anna said.

‘My child has perished.

He is no longer among the living.’

She began to weep and mourn for her son.

‘Woe to me!

My child,

The light of my eyes,

That I let you make the journey!’

But Tobit kept saying to her.

‘Be quiet and stop worrying, my dear.

He is all right.

Probably something unexpected has happened to him.

The man who went with him is trustworthy.

He is one of our own kin.

Do not grieve for him, my dear, he will soon be here.’

She answered him.

‘Be quiet yourself!

Stop trying to deceive me.

My child has perished.’

She would rush out every day. She would watch the road her son had taken. She would heed no one. When the sun had set, she would go in and mourn and weep all night long, getting no sleep at all.”

Tobit and his wife Anna were getting anxious about their son Tobias. Tobit was counting the days and how long it would take to go to Rages and return. Now by his calculations, the time for his return had passed. He thought that it was possible that he had been detained. Maybe Gabael had died and there was no one who knew about the money. He was worried, but Anna his wife was grief stricken. She kept weeping and mourning. She believed that Tobias was dead. She was mad that he even let him go on this journey. Tobit, although worried, tried to calm her down. He said that maybe something unexpected had happened. He certainly was with a trustworthy person, who was related to them. He turned optimistic and said that Tobias would soon be home. She got upset at Tobit and told him to be quiet. She felt that he was deceiving her and that Tobias was already dead. She would sit outside every day and look at the road that Tobias had taken. Then at night, she would go inside, weep, and mourn all night long. She was not getting any sleep.

 

Tobias sends Raphael to get the money (Tob 9:1-9:6)

“Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him.

‘Brother Azariah,

Take four servants and two camels with you!

Travel to Rages!

Go to the home of Gabael!

Give him the bond!

Get the money!

Then bring him with you to the wedding celebration.

You know that my father must be counting the days.

If I delay even one day I upset him.

You are a witness to the oath that Raguel has sworn.

I cannot violate his oath.’  

So Raphael with the four servants and two camels went to Rages in Media. He stayed with Gabael. Raphael gave him the bond. He informed him that Tobit’s son Tobias had married, so that he was inviting him to the marriage celebration. So Gabael got up and counted out to him the money bags, with their seals intact. They loaded them on the camels. In the morning they both got up early and came to the wedding celebration. When they came into Raguel’s house, they found Tobias reclining at table. He sprang up and greeted Gabael, who wept and blessed them.”

The time between Ecbatana and Reges was about 11 days one way. It would have been difficult to get him back for the wedding celebration. I do not understand why Tobias did not send Raphael back to Nineveh to get his parents to come to the wedding celebration. Where did Raphael get the 4 servants since he and Tobias were alone? Probably Raguel gave them to him with the camels. Anyway, the trip was very quick. Raphael stayed overnight and then set out the next day. Gabael gave the money to Raphael after counting it out. He accepted the invitation to the wedding. Gabael wept when he saw and greeted Tobias.

Tobias finds trustworthy Raphael (Tob 5:4-5:8)

“So Tobias went out to look for a man to go with him to Media, someone that was acquainted with the way. He went out and found the angel Raphael standing in front of him. Tobias did not perceive that he was an angel of God. Tobias said to him.

‘Where do you come from, young man?’

‘From your kindred, the Israelites.’

He replied.

‘I have come here to work.’

Then Tobias said to him.

‘Do you know the way to go to Media?’

‘Yes.’

He replied.

‘I have been there many times.

I am acquainted with that region.

I know all the roads.

I have often traveled to Media.

I would stay with our kinsman Gabael who lives in Rages of Media.

It is a journey of two days from Ecbatana to Rages.

It lies in a mountainous area.

Ecbatana, however, is in the middle of the plain.’

Then Tobias said to him.

‘Wait for me, young man, until I go and tell my father.

I need you to travel with me.

I will pay you your wages.’

He replied.

‘I will wait, but do not take too long.’”

Tobias went out to find someone trustworthy to lead him to Media to get the money from Gabael, who lived in Rages. Then suddenly the angel Raphael was standing in front of him. However, Tobias did not realize that Raphael was an angel. This happened in Genesis, chapter 18, where angels appeared to be human men. Tobias asked him where he was from. Raphael replied that he was an Israelite looking for work. When Tobias asked him about Media, he seemed to know a lot about the place, since he even knew Gabael in Rages. He said it would take 2 days to travel from Ecbatana to Rages, but in fact it is about 185 miles, more like a 15 to 20 day journey. Tobias said that he would pay him to go with him to Media, but he had to tell his father first. He asked Raphael to wait. Raphael said that he would wait, but not too long.

Tobias is confused (Tob 5:1-5:3)

“Then Tobias answered his father Tobit.

‘I will do everything that you have commanded me, father.

But how can I obtain the money from him

Since he does not know me

And I do not know him.

What evidence am I to give him?

How will he recognize and trust me?  

Also, I do not know the road to Media,

Or how to get there.’

Then Tobit answered his son, Tobias.

‘He gave me his bond.

I gave him by bond.

I divided his in two.

We each took one part.

I put one with the money.

Now twenty years have passed

Since I left the money in trust.

So now, my son, find yourself a trustworthy man to go with you.

We will pay him wages until you return.

However, get back the money from Gabael.’”

Tobias was confused. He had no idea who this man was that had the money in Media. He was willing to follow all the commandments of his father, but this money deal was confusing. How was he going to prove that he was the son of Tobit. On top of that, he did not know how to get to Media. Tobit than told him that he had half a piece of paper that corresponded with the half piece of paper with the money. 20 years had gone by, so that this guy Gabael might be dead. Tobit said that his son Tobias should find a trustworthy companion to lead him to Media and back. He was going to pay this person who would help Tobias when they returned with the money.

Tobit explains about the money in Media (Tob 4:20-4:21)

“Now, my son,

Let me explain to you

That I have left ten talents of silver

In trust with Gabael son of Gabrias

At Rages in Media.

Do not be afraid, my son,

Because we have become poor.

You have great wealth,

If you fear God

And refrain from every sin

And do what is pleasing in his sight.”

Finally, Tobit explains to his son the money that he left in Media with Gabael as in chapter 1 of this book. He told him that it was 10 talents of silver, about $60,000.USA dollars. He told Tobias to not be afraid, even though they seem poor. His wealth is with fearing God, staying away from sin, and being pleasing in the sight of God. Wealth is not just material things.

Tobit prepares for death (Tob 4:1-4:4)

“That same day, Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media. He said to himself. ‘Now I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias? I can explain to him about the money before I die.’ Then he called his son Tobias. When he came to him, he said.

‘My son,

When I die,

Give me a proper burial.

Honor your mother.  

Do not abandon her all the days of your life.

Do whatever pleases her.

Do not grieve her in anything.

Remember her, my son,

Because she faced many dangers for you

While you were in her womb.

When she dies,

Bury her beside me in the same grave.’”

Tobit continued his obsession with his death. He remembered the money he had left with Gabael in Media. He wanted to tell his son about this money before he died. When his son, Tobias, came to him, he told him that he wanted a proper burial. At the same time, he wanted his son to honor his mother. He wanted him not to give her much grief. There is no indication of his age so far, but you know how teenagers can be. On top of that, there is an indication that the pregnancy with him was difficult. Tobit wanted his wife to be buried in the same grave as himself.

Tobit would not eat the Gentile food (Tob 1:10-1:14)

“After I was carried away captive to Nineveh, every one of my kindred and my people ate the food of the Gentiles. However, I kept myself from eating the food of the Gentiles. Because I was mindful of God with all my heart, the Most High gave me favor and good standing with King Shalmaneser. I used to buy all the provisions he needed. Until his death, I used to go into Media, and buy for him there. While in the country of Media I left bags of silver worth ten talents in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabri.”

Although the family and friends of Tobit ate the Gentile food, he did not. It is not clear what food he actually ate. Because of this God was good to him. Somehow he became a messenger of the king. He would buy provisions for him in Media, which was pretty far away. One day he left 10 talents of silver with some person called Gabael. Why he did this is not clear. This was a lot of money, worth about $60,000 USA. However, as the rest of the story unfolds, the return of this money will be important.