5:1 Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will do all things which you have commanded me:

AUGUSTINE. In this case alone a son ought not to obey his father, if his father should have commanded anything contrary to the Lord his God. For indeed the father ought not to be angry, when God is preferred before him. But when a father does command that which is not contrary to God; he must be heard as God is: because to obey one’s father God has enjoined. God then blessed the sons of Jonadab because of their obedience, and thrust them in the teeth of His disobedient people, reproaching them, because while the sons of Jonadab were obedient to their father, they obeyed not their God. [Augustine, Exp. On Psalms, 71.2 NPNF s.1 v.8]

5:2 But how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not 3 Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek a man which may go with you, while I yet live, and I will give him wages: and go and receive the money.

5:4 Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel.

DIONYSIUS. But they also depict them under the likeness of men (Gen. 32:24), on account of the intellectual faculty, and their having powers of looking upwards, and their straight and erect form, and their innate faculty of ruling and guiding, and whilst being least, in physical strength as compared with the other powers of irrational creatures, yet ruling over all by their superior power of mind, and by their dominion in consequence of rational science, and their innate unslavishness and indomitableness of soul. It is possible, then, I think, to find within each of the many parts of our body harmonious images of the Heavenly Powers, by affirming that the powers of vision denote the most transparent elevation towards the Divine lights, and again, the tender, and liquid, and not repellent, but sensitive, and pure, and unfolded, reception, free from all passion, of the supremely Divine illuminations. [Dionysius the Areopagite, Celestial Hierarchy 15.3]*4

AUGUSTINE. One of true obedience does not delay; he dislikes procrastination, but has his eyes always ready for seeing, his ears for hearing, his tongue for speaking. [Hugo De Charo]

5:5 But he knew not; and he said unto him, Can you go with me to Rages And do you know those places well

AUGUSTINE. For so also was it with the angels who presented themselves to the eye and touch of men, not because they could do no otherwise, but because they were able and desirous to suit themselves to men by a kind of manhood ministry. [Augustine, City of God 13.22 NPNF s.1 v.2]

5:6 To whom the angel said, I will go with you, and I know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael. 7 Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father. 8 Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not. So he went in and said to his father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. Then he said, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and whether he be a trusty man to go with you. 9 So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another. 10 Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, show me of what tribe and family you are.

ORIGEN. With respect to the thoughts which proceed from our heart, or the recollection of things which we have done, or the contemplation of any things or causes whatever, we find that they sometimes proceed from ourselves, and sometimes are originated by the opposing powers; not seldom also are they suggested by God, or by the holy angels. Now such a statement will perhaps appear incredible, unless it be confirmed by the testimony of holy Scripture…That certain thoughts are suggested to men’s hearts either by good or evil angels, is shown both by the angel that accompanied Tobias. [Origen, De Principiis 3.2.4, ANF v.4]

5:11 To whom he said, Do you seek for a tribe or family, or an hired man to go with your son Then Tobit said unto him, I would know, brother, your kindred and name. 12 Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of your brethren. 13 Then Tobit said, You are welcome, brother; be not now angry with me, because I have enquired to know your tribe and your family; for you are my brother, of an honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and Jonathas, sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to Jerusalem to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits; and they were not seduced with the error of our brethren: my brother, you are of a good stock.

AUGUSTINE. The angel concealed his name from him. “I am Azarias,” he said, “the son of the great Ananias”, and he did not say, “I am the angel Raphael.” With the first name, he concealed his dignity, so as not to cause fright in his hirer. For if he had said, “I am an angel”, he would not have been Tobias’s hired servant. The dignity of the name was reserved, so that the magnitude of the dignity might become clear in the end. [Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 226.6 On Tobit]

BEDE. Tobias introduced the angel to his father and the angel greeted him saying, ‘May you always be joyful;’ to which the father responded, ‘How can I who sit in darkness and see nothing of heaven’s light be joyful?’ ‘Be hearty in spirit,’ he replied, ‘your cure from the Lord is at hand.’ Likewise, through miracles he worked in the flesh, our Lord showed the Jews, from whom he had assumed the flesh, that is the Son of God and an angel, that is, a messenger of the Father’s will. And he proclaimed the joy of everlasting salvation to them, saying, Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17) [Bede, Allegorica interpretatio in Tobiam PL91.927A}

BEDE. The angel promises Tobit that he will guide his son to the Median city of Rages and then bring him back to him. Although most of the Jews have been blinded, the Lord similarly promises the believers among them that he will reveal the mysteries of his incarnation to the Gentile multitudes and then at the end of time, when faith in his divinity everywhere accompanies and animates all things, he will disclose these mysteries more fully to his own people, from whom he assumed flesh. [Bede, Allegorica interpretatio in Tobiam PL 91.927B]**

BEDE. When Tobias asked the angel where he came from, he replied, I am Azarias, son of the great Ananias. ‘Azarias’ is translated as ‘the Lord our Helper’; ‘Ananias’ as ‘the Lord’s grace. The Lord also deeply impresses the fact upon these believing in him that it is he whose coming the prophet desired when he sings, You O Lord, are my helper and deliverer; do not delay; (Ps. 70:5) of him the evangelist also says, We have seen his glory, glory as of the Only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14) [Bede, Allegorica interpretatio in Tobiam PL 91.927B-C ]”

5:14 But tell me, what wages shall I give you will you a drachm a day, and things necessary, as to my own son 15 Yes, moreover, if you return safe, I will add something to your wages. 16 So they were well pleased. Then he said to Tobias, Prepare yourself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all things for the journey, his father said, You go with this man, and God, which dwells in heaven, prosper your journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them. 17 But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why have you sent away our son is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out before us 18 Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child. 19 For that which the Lord has given us to live with does suffice us. 20 Then Tobit said to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return in safety, and your eyes shall see him. 21 For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return safe. 22 Then she made an end of weeping.

BEDE. When the Lord appeared in the flesh, all those things that pertained to the world’s redemption were prepared, namely, Christ’s virtues, his teaching, temptation, suffering, resurrection, ascension, the sending of the Holy Spirit, the faith of believers, and persecution by unbelievers. By these things the faith and life of the Holy Church are nourished and strengthened until he brings the life of this age to a close. When these proclaimed the joys of heavenly salvation and peace through the apostles to the people and synagogue, whence he had received his origin in the flesh; and to those who through him were willing to believe and accept these things he gave himself, and in this way also he came to save the Gentiles through these same teachers. [Bede the Venerable, Allegorica interpretatio in Tobiam PL 91.927D}°6