Tobit

History · Deuterocanon · Anonymous Jewish author · c. 225-175 BCE

Set during the Assyrian exile, this narrative follows the righteous but blinded Tobit and his son Tobias. Guided by the disguised angel Raphael, Tobias embarks on a journey to retrieve his father's wealth, ultimately curing Tobit's blindness and delivering a woman named Sarah from a demon.

14 chapters

• 1Tobit 1The righteous captive Tobit remains faithful to God in Nineveh, performing acts of charity and burying dead kinsmen despite persecution.
• 2Tobit 2Tobit continues burying the dead, but is accidentally blinded by sparrow droppings, causing his wife and family to mock his plight.
• 3Tobit 3Depressed Tobit and the demon-afflicted Sarah pray for death, prompting God to send the angel Raphael to heal them both.
• 4Tobit 4Believing he will die, Tobit gives righteous instructions to his son Tobias and sends him to retrieve money left in Media.
• 5Tobit 5Tobias hires the disguised angel Raphael as a guide for his journey to Media, reassuring his anxious, weeping parents.
• 6Tobit 6Guided by Raphael, Tobias catches a giant fish, preserves its organs for medicine, and learns of his destined bride, Sarah.
• 7Tobit 7Tobias and Raphael arrive at Raguel's house, where Tobias requests and is granted Sarah's hand in marriage despite previous tragedies.
• 8Tobit 8Tobias expels the demon using the fish liver, prays with Sarah, and her relieved parents discover he survived the night.
• 9Tobit 9Raphael travels to Rages, recovers the deposited money from Gabelus, and brings him to attend Tobias's wedding celebration.
• 10Tobit 10As Tobias's parents grieve his delay, Raguel sends Tobias and Sarah home with half his wealth and parting blessings.
• 11Tobit 11Tobias returns home, uses the fish gall to heal his father Tobit's blindness, and welcomes his bride Sarah to Nineveh.
• 12Tobit 12Raphael reveals his true identity as an angel, refuses financial reward, exhorts Tobit and Tobias to praise God, and ascends.
• 13Tobit 13Tobit prays a song of praise and thanksgiving, prophesying the glorious restoration of Jerusalem and the conversion of the nations.
• 14Tobit 14Tobit instructs his son to flee doomed Nineveh, dies peacefully, and Tobias later relocates to Media, living to a prosperous age.