Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in shape of a man, undertaketh this office.
[1] Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me. [2] But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither. [3] Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it. [4] But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live. [5] Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk. [6] And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man? [7] But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes? [8] And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana. [9] And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father. [10] Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him. [11] So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always. [12] And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven? [13] And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand. [14] And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire. [15] And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee. [16] And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou? [17] And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son? [18] But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias. [19] And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family. [20] And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe. [21] And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you. [22] Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together. [23] And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us. [24] I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been. [25] For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son. [26] And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him. [27] For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy. [28] At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.Commentary
[18] “Azarias”: The angel took the form of Azarias: and therefore might call himself by the name of the man whom he personated. Azarias, in Hebrew, signifies the help of God, and Ananias the grace of God.
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