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Tobit / Chapter 9

Tobit 9

12 verses • Latin Vulgate (Jerome)

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Tobias sends Raphael to collect the ten talents of silver from Gabael in Rages while he remains at Raguel's house during the wedding festivities. Raphael retrieves the money and the signed note, and brings Gabael back to the wedding feast, where Gabael blesses Tobias and Sarah.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

This is the shortest and most transitional chapter in Tobit, yet it serves an essential narrative function: the original errand (recovering the money) is completed, even as the unexpected blessings (marriage, exorcism, eventual healing) have already begun to unfold. Gabael's blessing of Tobias invokes the patriarchal covenant and completes the economic storyline.

Translation Friction

Jerome's version is quite compressed. The logistics of Raphael traveling alone to Rages and back while Tobias stays in Ecbatana require the reader to accept a time-lapse. The Vulgate does not dwell on distances.

Connections

The recovery of the deposit connects to the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30) by vocabulary if not by theme. Gabael's blessing echoes the Aaronic benediction (Num 6:24-26). The completion of the financial errand fulfills Tobit's charge from chapter 4.

Tobit 9:1

Tunc vocavit Tobias angelum ad se, quem quidem hominem existimabat, dixitque ei: Azaria frater, peto ut auscultes verba mea.

Then Tobias called the angel to him — whom he still believed to be a man — and said to him: 'Brother Azarias, I ask you to listen to my words.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The narrator's reminder ('whom he still believed to be a man') sustains the dramatic irony. Tobias addresses an archangel as 'brother' — the gap between what he knows and what is true remains vast.
Tobit 9:2

Si me ipsum tradam tibi servum, non ero condignus providentiae tuae.

Even if I gave myself to you as a servant, I would not be worthy of your care.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

providentiae tuae
"your care"

The word 'providentia' (providence/care) unwittingly attributes divine providence to a human companion — which is exactly what Raphael is channeling.

Translator Notes

  1. Tobias's gratitude is enormous — he offers himself as a servant. The irony is that Raphael's care comes not from human goodness but from divine mission.
Tobit 9:3

Tamen obsecro te ut adsumas tibi animalia sive servitia et vadas ad Gabelum in Rages civitatem Medorum, reddasque ei chirographum suum et recipias ab eo pecuniam et roges eum venire ad nuptias meas.

But I beg you, take whatever pack animals or servants you need and go to Gabael in Rages, a city of the Medes. Return his signed note to him, collect the money from him, and invite him to come to my wedding.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

chirographum
"signed note"

The handwritten bond from chapter 1 — its return closes the financial circle that launched the journey.

Tobit 9:4

Scis enim ipse quoniam numerat pater meus dies; et si tardavero una die plus, contristatur anima eius.

For you yourself know that my father is counting the days, and if I am late by even one day more, his soul will be grieved.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Tobias's awareness of his father's anxiety shows filial devotion. Every extra day of the wedding feast is a day of agony for Tobit back in Nineveh.
Tobit 9:5

Et certe vides quomodo adiuravit me Raguel, cuius adiurationem spernere non possum.

And you certainly see how Raguel has made me swear, and I cannot disregard his oath.'

Tobit 9:6

Tunc Raphael adsumens quattuor ex servis Raguelis et duos camelos in Rages civitatem Medorum pervenit, et inveniens Gabelum dedit ei chirographum suum et recepit ab eo omnem pecuniam.

Then Raphael, taking four of Raguel's servants and two camels, went to the city of Rages in Media. Finding Gabael, he gave him the signed note and received from him all the money.

Tobit 9:7

Indicavitque ei de Tobia filio Tobiae omnia quae gesta sunt, fecitque eum secum venire ad nuptias.

He told him about Tobias son of Tobit and all that had happened, and brought him along to the wedding.

Tobit 9:8

Cumque ingressus esset domum Raguelis, invenit Tobiam discumbentem; et exiliens osculati sunt se invicem, et flevit Gabelus benedixitque Deum

When he entered Raguel's house, he found Tobias reclining at table. Tobias leaped up and they kissed each other, and Gabael wept and blessed God,

Tobit 9:9

et dixit: Benedicat te Deus Israhel, quia filius es optimi viri et iusti et timentis Deum et eleemosynas facientis.

and said: 'May the God of Israel bless you, because you are the son of an excellent and righteous man, one who fears God and gives alms.

Tobit 9:10

Et dicatur benedictio super uxorem tuam et super parentes vestros.

And may blessing be spoken over your wife and over both your parents.

Tobit 9:11

Et videatis filios vestros et filios filiorum vestrorum usque in tertiam et quartam generationem, et sit semen vestrum benedictum a Deo Israhel, qui regnat in saecula saeculorum.

And may you see your children and your children's children to the third and fourth generation, and may your seed be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigns forever and ever.'

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

in tertiam et quartam generationem
"to the third and fourth generation"

An echo of the Exodus formula — but transformed from a warning about iniquity into a blessing for faithfulness.

Translator Notes

  1. Gabael's blessing is patriarchal in scope — he invokes generational continuity (three to four generations), echoing both the covenant promise to Abraham and the 'visiting to the third and fourth generation' language of Exodus 20:5-6 (but here as blessing, not curse).
Tobit 9:12

Cumque omnes dixissent Amen, accesserunt ad convivium; sed et cum timore Domini nuptiarum convivium exercebant.

When all had said 'Amen,' they went to the feast; and they celebrated the wedding banquet with the fear of the Lord.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

cum timore Domini
"with the fear of the Lord"

Even celebration is conducted in reverence — the fear of the Lord pervades every dimension of life in Tobit's theology.

Translator Notes

  1. The chapter ends as it should — with communal celebration, communal prayer, and the fear of the Lord. The wedding feast is both festive and reverent.
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