Raphael reveals himself as one of God's seven angels

In this chapter, Raphael finally revealed that he is an angel of God. Before that, Tobit and Tobias thought he was a man whom they hired to journey with Tobias on his mission. During this mission, Raphael had fulfilled the main goal of helping recover the trust money, as well a many other things like showing how to cast out the demons around Sarah, healing Tobit and more. So they decided to give him half the treasures brought back by Tobias.

The angel revealed his identity and gave them advise to continue to praise God in all things. There is also some mention of almsgiving - that it is good to give alms than to hoard treasure for oneself. Jesus and the Old Testament have also taught about being generous. This chapter goes a bit further and says "almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin". Perhaps this is the controversial part that resulted in this book not being canonized. For it is our Lord Jesus himself that can deliver us from death and purge away every sin by his sacrifice on the cross.

A lot more is also revealed about Raphael in this chapter. He is one of seven of God's angels who presents the prayers from people to God. Raphael mentions that he heard the prayers of Tobit and Sarah, and also recognize the good deeds such as Tobit burying the dead without hesitation, at the beginning of this book.






Tobit 12:  Raph′ael’s Wages
Tobit then called his son Tobi′as and said to him, “My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more.” 2 He replied, “Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I have brought back. 3 For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the money for me, and he also healed you.” 4 The old man said, “He deserves it.” 5 So he called the angel and said to him, “Take half of all that you two have brought back.”

Raph′ael’s Exhortation
6 Then the angel[a] called the two of them privately and said to them: “Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. 7 It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. 8 Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. 9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity[b] and of righteousness will have fulness of life; 10 but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.

Raph′ael Discloses His Identity
11 “I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, ‘It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.’ 12 And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. 13 When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. 14 So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 15 I am Raph′ael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”

16 They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid. 17 But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. 18 For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever. 19 All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. 20 And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened.” 21 Then they stood up; but they saw him no more. 22 So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

Tobias returns home; Tobit's eyesight restored

Tobias finally arrived home, and we are reminded that they live in Nineveh, most probably as the captives from the kingdom of Israel resettled in Nineveh after the Assyrians defeated them. It also shows the Israelites obedience to God in submitting to God's will and trying to make a peaceful living, even as they were relocated to a different country.

The passage is a joyous account of the reunion of Tobias and his parents, and in addition, introducing his new wife. There was great celebration of the marriage, reflecting the family's thankfulness for God's greatness, mercy and blessings. There is also the account that Tobit's sight was miraculously restored. They seemingly used a 'method' of using the fish gall to sprinkle on their eyes, and Jesus also used a 'method' of spitting in the mud, mixing it and applying to the man's eyes. Despite these physical 'methods', there was no doubt to everyone involved there, that the healing came directly from God, and not the rituals.



Tobit 11 - Homeward Journey
After this Tobi′as went on his way, praising God because he had made his journey a success. And he blessed Rag′uel and his wife Edna.

So he continued on his way until they came near to Nin′eveh. 2 Then Raph′ael said to Tobi′as, “Are you not aware, brother, of how you left your father? 3 Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house. 4 And take the gall of the fish with you.” So they went their way, and the dog went along behind them.

5 Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. 6 And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, “Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!”

Tobit’s Sight Restored
7 Raph′ael said, “I know, Tobi′as, that your father will open his eyes. 8 You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you.”

9 Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, “I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die.” And they both wept. 10 Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him 11 and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his father’s eyes, saying, “Be of good cheer, father.” 12 And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them, 13 and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes. 14 Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, “Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all thy holy angels. 15 For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see my son Tobi′as!” And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.

16 Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nin′eveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see. 17 And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, “Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother.” So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nin′eveh. 18 Ahi′kar and his nephew Nadab[a] came, 19 and Tobi′as’ marriage was celebrated for seven days with great festivity.

Money recovered and Gabael blesses Tobias at his wedding

Tobias' unexpected wedding also meant that he could not fulfill his original mission of recovering his family's trust money from Gabael in Media. So Tobias made arrangements for Raphael to go instead and also invite Gabael to the wedding feast. Things went smoothly and Gabael released the trust money and also came to the wedding and blessed Tobias.


9 The Money Recovered
Then Tobi′as called Raph′ael and said to him, 2 “Brother Azari′as, take a servant and two camels with you and go to Gab′ael at Rages in Media and get the money for me; and bring him to the wedding feast. 3 For Rag′uel has sworn that I should not leave; 4 but my father is counting the days, and if I delay long he will be greatly distressed.” 5 So Raph′ael made the journey and stayed over night with Gab′ael. He gave him the receipt, and Gab′ael[a] brought out the money bags with their seals intact and gave them to him. 6 In the morning they both got up early and came to the wedding feast. And Gab′ael blessed Tobi′as and his wife.[b][c]

Tobias received Sarah in marriage

The travelers Raphael (the angel) and Tobias arrived at Raguel, the cousin of Tobit. They have obviously not met before and from the introduction, Raguel realized how they were related. We see a summary for Tobit again, who is from the tribe of Naphtali, from the northern kingdom of Israel. Tobit lived in the time when they Assyrians conquered Israel and re-distributed its population, hence Tobit was displaced to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

Following the feast, Tobias raised the proposal of his marriage to Sarah, daughter of Raguel. Raguel instantly recognized the right of Tobias to take Sarah as his wife. They discussed the fact that Sarah was married seven times, and the husbands all died on the wedding night. Nevertheless, both parties accepted that, proceeded to seal the marriage and Sarah was given to Tobias that night. Again Raguel, referred to his wife Edna as 'sister', indicating they were at least cousins.





Tobit 7 - Arrival at Home of Raguel
7 When they reached Ecbat′ana and arrived at the house of Rag′uel, Sarah met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought them into the house. 2 Then Rag′uel said to his wife Edna, “How much the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!” 3 And Rag′uel asked them, “Where are you from, brethren?” They answered him, “We belong to the sons of Naph′tali, who are captives in Nin′eveh.” 4 So he said to them, “Do you know our brother Tobit?” And they said, “Yes, we do.” And he asked them, “Is he in good health?” 5 They replied, “He is alive and in good health.” And Tobi′as said, “He is my father.” 6 Then Rag′uel sprang up and kissed him and wept. 7 And he blessed him and exclaimed, “Son of that good and noble man!” When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept. 8 And his wife Edna and his daughter Sarah wept. They received them very warmly; and they killed a ram from the flock and set large servings of food before them.

Marriage of Tobias and Sarah
Then Tobi′as said to Raph′ael, “Brother Azari′as, speak of those things which you talked about on the journey, and let the matter be settled.” 9 So he communicated the proposal to Rag′uel. And Rag′uel said to Tobi′as, “Eat, drink, and be merry; 10 for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you. 11 I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry.” And Tobi′as said, “I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me.” 12 So Rag′uel said, “Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best.” 13 Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobi′as to be his wife, saying, “Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father.” And he blessed them.[a] 14 Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it. 15 Then they began to eat.

16 And Rag′uel called his wife Edna and said to her, “Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it.” 17 So she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl[b] began to weep. But the mother[c] comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her, 18 “Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy[d] in place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter.”

Raphael teaches Tobias how to claim Sarah

In this passage, we continue to see various traditions of the Israelites, even from the time of Abraham. So Tobias continues on the journey with the angel Raphael. On the way, a curious thing occurred, that is a big fish capable of swallowing Tobias had an encounter with them. Raphael warned Tobias in time and he slew the fish. The other interesting thing is that Raphael told Tobias to keep the fish's heart, liver and gall, the first two will be used agains demons.

Next they arrived at Ecbatana, and headed towards the home of Raguel. Raguel is a relative of Tobias' family, and Raguel's daughter is rightfully able to marry Tobias, according to the Law of Moses. Tobias heard that the daughter had seven (7) marriages before but the groom always dies on the wedding night. They believed an evil spirit is the cause of this. The angel taught Tobias to make incense from the heart and gall of the fish, so that the smoke will cause the evil spirit around the daughter to go away. At this suggestion, Tobias agreed to Raphael's plans.



Tobit 6 - Journey to Rages
6 Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there. 2 Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man; 3 and the angel said to him, “Catch the fish.” So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land. 4 Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely.” 5 So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish.

And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbat′ana. 6 Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azari′as, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?” 7 He replied, “As for the heart and the liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again. 8 And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured.”

Raph′ael’s Instructions
9 When they approached Ecbat′ana,[a] 10 the angel said to the young man, “Brother, today we shall stay with Rag′uel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage, 11 because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman. 12 The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Rag′uel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance.”

13 Then the young man said to the angel, “Brother Azari′as, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber. 14 Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them.”

15 [b]But the angel said to him, “Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage. 16 When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke. 17 Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her.” When Tobi′as heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her.

God listens to Tobit and Sarah's prayer

Tobit 3 
In the previous chapter, Tobit became blind and his wife was earning a living for the family. Here we see Tobit in a desperate situation and calling God to end his life on earth so that his despair and suffering would end. It is a serious prayer showing a man who really believed in the Almighty God, yet lost believe in any blessings that would come in this life.

As Tobit was praying, another woman was also in desperate prayer. Being accused of causing the demise of her seven husbands and perhaps seeing the hopelessness of her life, she too prayed a similar prayer as Tobit. Again her prayers of giving praise and honour to God first showed that she was a  believing woman, but too desperate and broken about her life situation.

In the final paragraph, we see these two individuals, Tobit and Sarah, were brought together by God's divine plan. The angel Raphael was send to heal Tobit's blindness, and arranged for Sarah to marry the son of Tobit. God not only hears prayers, but he had planned before the prayers were made. The Holy Spirit motivates people to pray, for what God has already ordained, so that when the plan is completed, God is glorified more.

Another point this passage reveals is that there are some bad things which are caused by opposing supernatural forces at work against mankind that leads to various suffering.







Tobit’s Prayer
3 Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying, 2 “Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever. 3 Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offenses and those which my fathers committed before thee. 4 For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed. 5 And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. For we did not walk in truth before thee. 6 And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me.”

Sarah Falsely Accused
7 On the same day, at Ecbat′ana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Rag′uel, was reproached by her father’s maids, 8 because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmode′us had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids[a] said to her, “Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from[b] any of them. 9 Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!”

Sarah’s Prayer for Death
10 When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, “I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave.”[c] 11 So she prayed by her window and said, “Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever. 12 And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward thee. 13 Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no more. 14 Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man, 15 and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father’s only child, and he has no child to be his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman’s[d] son for whom I should keep myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I live? But if it be not pleasing to thee to take my life, command that respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear reproach no more.”

An Answer to Prayer
16 The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God. 17 And Raphael[e] was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films from Tobit’s eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Rag′uel in marriage to Tobi′as the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmode′us the evil demon, because Tobi′as was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Rag′uel came down from her upper room.