Tobit 9: Raphael fetches the silver from Gabael at Rages
A free study, verse by verse. Text: Brenton’s English of the Greek (1851). Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Tobias asks Raphael, whom he calls Azarias, to take four servants and two camels to Rages, give Gabael the handwritten note, collect the silver, and bring Gabael to the wedding, because Raguel has sworn and Tobias cannot break the oath, and his father is counting the days. Raphael tells Gabael of the wedding, and Gabael counts out the sealed bags. Early in the morning they come to Raguel's house, find Tobias at table, and Tobias is blessed as the good son of a good and righteous father.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold: there is no speaker data for Tobit. The narrator tells the story. Tobias speaks to Raphael, calling him Azarias, in verses 2 to 4. In verse 6 a blessing is spoken over Tobias; the speaker calls him "Tobias my cousin" and is not named (it is said just after Gabael has come). These blessings are the speaker's own words.
1Then Tobias called Raphael, and said unto him,
In plain English: Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him,
2Brother 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.
In plain English: "Brother Azarias, take four servants and two camels with you, and go to Rages. Go to Gabael and give him the handwritten note. Get the silver, and bring him with you to the wedding.
Good to know: The long Greek has "four servants" and has Tobias tell Raphael to give Gabael the handwritten note. Brenton's verse has "a servant" and "go to Rages of Media to Gabael, and bring me the money".
The Greek word: "The money" (Brenton) is argyrion, the word for silver, which is also used for money. It is the silver Tobit left with Gabael at Rages: "ten talents of silver" (, again ).
3For Raguel hath sworn that I shall not depart.
In plain English: You see what Raguel has sworn, and I cannot break his oath.
Good to know: The long Greek has "You see what Raguel has sworn, and I cannot break his oath." Brenton's verse has "For Raguel hath sworn that I shall not depart."
4But my father counteth the days; and if I tarry long, he will be very sorry.
In plain English: For you know that my father will be counting the days, and if I am late by a single day, I will grieve him deeply."
Good to know: The long Greek has "if I am late by a single day". Brenton's verse has "if I tarry long, he will be very sorry".
5So 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.
In plain English: So Raphael went with the four servants and the two camels to Rages of Media, and they spent the night with Gabael. He gave him his handwritten note, and told him about Tobias the son of Tobit: that he had taken a wife, and that he was inviting him to the wedding. Gabael got up and counted out to him the bags, with their seals, and they packed them up together.
Good to know: The long Greek adds the four servants and the two camels, and that Raphael told Gabael of the wedding; there Gabael counts out the bags. Brenton's verse has "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".
6And early in the morning they went forth both together, and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his wife.
In plain English: They got up early together and came to the wedding. They went into Raguel's house and found Tobias at table. He jumped up and greeted him, and he wept and blessed him, and said to him, "Good and noble one, son of a good and noble man, righteous and a giver of alms! May the Lord give the blessing of heaven to you and your wife, to your father, and to your wife's mother. Blessed be God, because I have seen Tobias my cousin, so like him." (The text does not name who jumps up or who blesses.)
Good to know: The long Greek has the arrival at Raguel's house and the blessing spoken over Tobias. Brenton's verse ends "and came to the wedding: and Tobias blessed his wife".