“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.