Raphael

16The prayers of both of them were heard by the great God in all his glory.

So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the great God.

Note"Glory" means how great and shining God is.

17And Raphael was sent to heal them both. He was to scrape the white film off Tobit's eyes. He was to give Sara, the daughter of Raguel, to Tobias, the son of Tobit, as his wife. He was also to tie up Asmodeus, the evil spirit. Sara belonged to Tobias by family right. At that very same time, Tobit came home and went into his house. And Sara, the daughter of Raguel, came down from her upstairs room.

And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit’s eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.

NoteRaphael is an angel, a messenger God sends to help people. A white film is a cloudy skin over the eye that stops a person from seeing. To tie up the evil spirit means to stop him from hurting anyone. "By family right" means Tobias was her closest relative, so the family rules said he should marry her. Houses then often had a room built on the flat roof.

1Tobias answered his father. He said, "Father, I will do everything you told me.

Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will do all things which thou hast commanded me:

NoteTobit is the father, and Tobias is his son. Tobit cannot see.

2But how can I get the money? I do not know the man."

But how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not?

NoteLong ago Tobit left money with a man in a faraway town. Tobias has never met that man.

3So his father gave him the written paper. He said, "Look for a man to go with you, while I am still alive. I will pay him. Then go and get the money."

Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek thee a man which may go with thee, whiles I yet live, and I will give him wages: and go and receive the money.

NoteThe written paper showed that the money belonged to Tobit. It worked like a receipt.

4So Tobias went to look for a man. He found Raphael, who was an angel.

Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to help people.

5But Tobias did not know that. He said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages? Do you know those places well?"

But he knew not; and he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well?

NoteRages was a city very far away. Walking there took many days.

6The angel said to him, "I will go with you. I know the way well. I have stayed at the house of our brother Gabael."

To whom the angel said, I will go with thee, and I know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael.

NoteHere brother means someone from the same people. Gabael was not really his brother.

7Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me. I will go tell my father."

Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father.

8The man said to him, "Go, and do not be slow." So Tobias went in to his father. He said, "Look, I have found someone who will go with me." His father said, "Call him to me. I want to know what tribe he is from. I want to know if he is safe to travel with you."

Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not. So he went in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. Then he said, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with thee.

NoteA tribe was a big family group. The people of Israel had twelve tribes.

9So Tobias called him, and the man came in. The two of them greeted each other.

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

10Then Tobit said to him, "Brother, tell me what tribe and family you come from."

Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art.

11The man said to him, "Are you looking for a tribe and a family? Or for a worker to go with your son?" Then Tobit said to him, "Brother, I want to know your family and your name."

To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired man to go with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him, I would know, brother, thy kindred and name.

12Then he said, "I am Azarias. My father was Ananias the great. I am one of your own people."

Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of thy brethren.

NoteCalling a man great meant people looked up to him.

13Then Tobit said, "Welcome, brother. Please do not be angry with me. I only asked about your tribe and your family. You are my brother, and your family is good and honest. I knew Ananias and Jonathas, the sons of the great Samaias. We went to Jerusalem together to worship. We gave the firstborn animals there. We gave a tenth of what our fields grew. Those men did not go the wrong way like others of our people did. My brother, you come from good people.

Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome, brother; be not now angry with me, because I have enquired to know thy tribe and thy family; for thou art my brother, of an honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and Jonathas, sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits; and they were not seduced with the error of our brethren: my brother, thou art of a good stock.

NoteJerusalem was the city with God's temple, the special place for worship. Giving the firstborn animals meant giving God the first baby animal born. Giving a tenth meant giving one basket out of every ten.

14But tell me, what pay should I give you? Will you take one drachm a day? I will also give you what you need, just like my own son.

But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm a day, and things necessary, as to mine own son?

NoteA drachm was a small silver coin. It was about one day's pay for a worker.

15And if you both come home safe, I will give you more than that."

Yea, moreover, if ye return safe, I will add something to thy wages.

16They were both happy with this. Then Tobit said to Tobias, "Get ready for the trip. May God give you a good trip." When his son had everything ready, his father said to him, "Go with this man. May God, who lives in heaven, make your trip go well. May the angel of God travel with you." So the two of them went out. The young man's dog went with them.

So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all things for the journey, his father said, Go thou with this man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them.

17But Anna his mother cried. She said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our son away? Is he not the strong stick in our hand? He goes in and out in front of us.

But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent away our son? is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us?

NotePeople leaned on a strong stick when they walked. Anna means her son holds them up like that.

18Do not be greedy to pile up more and more money. Next to our child, money is only trash.

Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child.

19What the Lord has given us to live on is enough for us."

For that which the Lord hath given us to live with doth suffice us.

20Then Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister. He will come home safe. Your own eyes will see him.

Then said Tobit to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return in safety, and thine eyes shall see him.

NoteHusbands sometimes called their wives sister. It was a warm, loving word.

21The good angel will travel with him. His trip will go well. He will come home safe."

For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return safe.

22Then she stopped crying.

Then she made an end of weeping.

1They came to the city of Ecbatana. They went to the house of Raguel. Sara came out to meet them. They greeted each other. Then she brought them inside the house.

And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel, and Sara met them: and after they had saluted one another, she brought them into the house.

NoteEcbatana was a city far away from Tobias's home. Getting there took many days of walking.

2Raguel said to his wife Edna, "This young man looks so much like my cousin Tobit!"

Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this young man to Tobit my cousin!

3Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brothers?" They said, "We are sons of Naphtali. We are captives in the city of Nineveh."

And Raguel asked them, From whence are ye, brethren? To whom they said, We are of the sons of Nephthalim, which are captives in Nineve.

NoteNaphtali was one of the big family groups of Israel. Captives are people taken away from home by soldiers. Their families had been carried off to live in Nineveh, a city in another land.

4Then he said to them, "Do you know Tobit, our relative?" They said, "We know him." Then he asked, "Is he well?"

Then he said to them, Do ye know Tobit our kinsman? And they said, We know him. Then said he, Is he in good health?

5They said, "He is alive, and he is well." And Tobias said, "He is my father."

And they said, He is both alive, and in good health: and Tobias said, He is my father.

6Then Raguel jumped up. He kissed Tobias, and he cried.

Then Raguel leaped up, and kissed him, and wept,

7He blessed him and said, "You are the son of an honest, good man." Then he heard that Tobit was blind. That made him sad, and he cried.

And blessed him, and said unto him, Thou art the son of an honest and good man. But when he had heard that Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept.

NoteTo bless someone means to say kind words over them. You are asking God to be good to that person.

8Edna his wife cried too, and so did Sara his daughter. They welcomed their guests gladly. They killed a ram from the flock. They put plenty of food on the table. Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, tell him the things you talked about on the road. Let this matter be settled."

And likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter wept. Moreover they entertained them cheerfully; and after that they had killed a ram of the flock, they set store of meat on the table. Then said Tobias to Raphael, Brother Azarias, speak of those things of which thou didst talk in the way, and let this business be dispatched.

NoteA ram is a grown male sheep. Killing an animal for a big meal was how people showed guests they were welcome and important.

9So he told Raguel about it. Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat and drink and be glad.

So he communicated the matter with Raguel: and Raguel said to Tobias, Eat and drink, and make merry:

1When supper was over, they brought Tobias in to Sarah.

And when they had supped, they brought Tobias in unto her.

NoteIn this story the bride and groom were walked to their own room. Sarah had been married seven times before. Every husband had died on the wedding night.

2As he went, he remembered what Raphael had told him. He took the ashes of the incense. He laid the fish's heart and liver on them. That made smoke.

And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish thereupon, and made a smoke therewith.

NoteIncense is a sweet-smelling stuff people burn, like perfume smoke. Raphael was the angel walking with Tobias. He had told Tobias to keep the fish's heart and liver for this night.

3The evil spirit smelled that smell. It ran away to the far parts of Egypt. The angel tied him up there.

The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.

NoteAn evil spirit is a bad, unseen creature. This one had killed Sarah's other husbands. Egypt was a country very far away to the south.

1Then Tobias called Raphael. He said to him,

Then Tobias called Raphael, and said unto him,

NoteRaphael was an angel, a messenger sent by God. Tobias did not know that. He thought Raphael was a helper named Azarias.

2"Brother Azarias, take a servant and two camels with you. Go to Rages in Media, to Gabael. Get my money for me. And bring Gabael back to the wedding.

Brother Azarias, take with thee a servant, and two camels, and go to Rages of Media to Gabael, and bring me the money, and bring him to the wedding.

Note"Brother" here is a friendly word for a good friend. Tobias and Azarias were not really brothers. Rages was a city far away in a land called Media. Gabael was a friend of the family. He had been keeping Tobias's money safe for years. Camels are big animals that carry heavy loads on long trips.

3Raguel has made a promise. He has sworn that I must not leave.

For Raguel hath sworn that I shall not depart.

NoteRaguel was the father of Tobias's new wife. To "swear" is to make a very strong promise. Raguel had promised that Tobias would stay for the whole wedding party. Weddings then lasted many days, not just one.

4But my father is counting the days. If I stay away long, he will be very sad."

But my father counteth the days; and if I tarry long, he will be very sorry.

NoteTobias's father was waiting at home. He did not know if his son was safe. Counting the days means he checked each day and worried.

5So Raphael set off. He stayed the night with Gabael. He gave Gabael the piece of writing. Gabael brought out bags that were sealed shut. He handed them to Raphael.

So Raphael went out, and lodged with Gabael, and gave him the handwriting: who brought forth bags which were sealed up, and gave them to him.

NoteThe "handwriting" was a paper Tobias's father had written long ago. It showed that the money belonged to his family. The bags were sealed shut with wax. Nobody could open a bag without breaking the seal. That way you knew no money had been taken out.

6Early the next morning the two of them left together. They came to the wedding. And Tobias blessed his wife.

And early in the morning they went forth both together, and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his wife.

1After this Tobias went on his way. He praised God for a good journey. He blessed Raguel and Edna his wife. Then he traveled on until they came near Nineveh.

After these things Tobias went his way, praising God that he had given him a prosperous journey, and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way till they drew near unto Nineve.

NoteRaguel and Edna are the parents of Tobias' new wife. To bless someone means to say kind words about them. You ask God to be good to them.

2Then Raphael said to Tobias, "You know, brother, how you left your father."

Then Raphael said to Tobias, Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst leave thy father:

NoteRaphael is really an angel. Tobias does not know that yet. Calling someone "brother" was a friendly way to talk to a friend.

3"Let us hurry on ahead of your wife and get the house ready."

Let us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.

4"And carry the gall of the fish in your hand." So they went on their way, and the dog went after them.

And take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.

NoteGall is a bitter juice from inside a fish. Tobias saved it earlier. Long ago people used it like medicine.

5Now Anna sat and looked down the road, watching for her son.

Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son.

NoteAnna is Tobias' mother. She has waited many days for him to come home.

6She saw him coming. She said to his father, "Look, your son is coming. The man who went with him is coming too."

And when she espied him coming, she said to his father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with him.

7Then Raphael said, "I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes."

Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes.

8"So rub the gall on his eyes. It will sting him, and he will rub them. The white stuff will fall off. Then he will see you."

Therefore anoint thou his eyes with the gall, and being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness shall fall away, and he shall see thee.

NoteTobit's eyes were covered with a white film. It was like a skin over his eyes. That is why he could not see.

1Then Tobit called his son Tobias. He said, "My son, make sure the man who traveled with you gets his pay. Give him more than that too."

Then Tobit called his son Tobias, and said unto him, My son, see that the man have his wages, which went with thee, and thou must give him more.

2Tobias said to him, "Father, it will not hurt me to give him half of what I brought back.

And Tobias said unto him, O father, it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I have brought:

3He brought me home to you safely. He healed my wife. He brought back my money. He healed you too."

For he hath brought me again to thee in safety, and made whole my wife, and brought me the money, and likewise healed thee.

4Then the old man said, "He has earned it."

Then the old man said, It is due unto him.

5So Tobit called the angel. He said to him, "Take half of everything you two brought back. Then go on your way safely."

So he called the angel, and he said unto him, Take half of all that ye have brought and go away in safety.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends. This angel had looked like an ordinary man the whole trip. Tobias thought he was a helper named Azarias. Nobody knew he was an angel yet.

6Then the angel took them both aside. He said to them, "Bless God. Praise him. Tell how great he is. Praise him for what he has done for you, in front of everyone alive. It is good to praise God and lift up his name. It is right to tell about the works of God with honor. So do not be slow to praise him.

Then he took them both apart, and said unto them, Bless God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for the things which he hath done unto you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise God, and exalt his name, and honourably to shew forth the works of God; therefore be not slack to praise him.

NoteTo bless God means to say good things about him.

7It is good to keep a king's secret hidden. But it brings honor to tell what God has done. Do what is good, and no evil will touch you.

It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honourable to reveal the works of God. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you.

NoteLong ago a king's plans were kept secret. Telling a king's secret could get a person in trouble.

8Prayer is good, along with going without food, giving to the poor, and doing right. A little with doing right is better than a lot with doing wrong. It is better to give to the poor than to store up gold.

Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold:

NoteGoing without food for a while is called fasting. People did it while they prayed. It showed they meant their prayers with their whole heart.

9Giving to the poor saves people from death. It washes away all sin. Those who give to the poor and do right will be full of life.

For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life:

NoteSin means doing what is wrong. It turns a person away from God.

10But people who sin are enemies of their own life.

But they that sin are enemies to their own life.

11I will not keep anything hidden from you. I said it is good to keep a king's secret hidden. But it brings honor to tell what God has done.

Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I said, It was good to keep close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable to reveal the works of God.

12When you prayed, and when Sara your son's wife prayed, I carried the memory of your prayers before the Holy One. And when you buried the dead, I was with you too.

Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One: and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise.

Note"The Holy One" is a name for God here. The angel carried their prayers to God, a little like carrying a letter.

13You did not wait. You got up and left your dinner to go and cover the dead. Your good deed was not hidden from me. I was with you.

And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed was not hid from me: but I was with thee.

NoteTo cover the dead means to bury them. Tobit's people believed burying the dead was very important. Earlier the king had told everyone not to do it. Tobit buried them anyway, even though it was dangerous.

14And now God has sent me to heal you and Sara your son's wife.

And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law.

15I am Raphael. I am one of the seven holy angels. We carry the prayers of God's holy people. We go in and out before the glory of the Holy One."

I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

NoteRaphael is a name. It means "God heals." People long ago spoke of seven angels who stand closest to God. Glory means the bright shining that shows God is there.

16Then the two of them were shaken. They fell down with their faces to the ground. They were afraid.

Then they were both troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they feared.

NoteFalling down with your face to the ground showed great respect. People did this when something holy happened.

17But he said to them, "Do not be afraid. Things will go well with you. So praise God.

But he said unto them, Fear not, for it shall go well with you; praise God therefore.

18I did not come as a favor of my own. I came because our God wanted it. So praise him forever.

For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came; wherefore praise him for ever.

19All these days you saw me here. But I did not eat or drink. What you saw was a vision.

All these days I did appear unto you; but I did neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision.

NoteA vision is something God lets people see. The angel looked like a man, but he did not need food or drink.

20So now give thanks to God. I am going up to the one who sent me. Write down in a book everything that has happened."

Now therefore give God thanks: for I go up to him that sent me; but write all things which are done in a book.

NoteBooks then were long rolls of paper. People wrote on them by hand.

21When they got up, they could not see him anymore.

And when they arose, they saw him no more.

22Then they told openly about the great and wonderful works of God. They told how the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

Then they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared unto them.

NoteAn angel of the Lord means a messenger sent by God.