The Other "Book of Tobit" Quiz

Answer: Tobias is the son of Tobit.

"The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel..." (1:1) and later: "Furthermore, when I came to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias." (1:9)


Tobit provides first person narration for the first two chapters. Beginning in the third chapter, the book switches to third person narration when it talks about Tobias and his future wife.

Answer: Tobit accuses his wife of theft.

"And my wife Anna did take women's work to do. And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her wages, and gave also besides a kid. And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her, "From whence is this kid? Is it not stolen? Render it to the owners; for it is not lawful to eat anything that is stolen." But she replied unto me. "It was given for a gift more than the wages." However, I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the owners and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, "Where are thine alms and thy righteous deeds? Behold, thou and all thy works are known." Then I being grieved did weep, and in my sorrow prayed." (2:11-3:1)

Tobit doesn't seem to give much in the way of "benefit of the doubt" to his wife who was doing her part to support the family. It is interesting that Tobit, who describes himself in the early part of the tale as performing several acts of charity, doesn't have any to show to his wife.

Answer: Her husbands have been killed by a demon.

"It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane, a city of Media, Sara, the daughter of Raguel, was also reproached by her father's maids. Because that she had been married to seven husbands, when Asmodeus the evil spirit had been killed before they had lain with her. "Dost thou not know," said they, "that thou hast strangled thine husbands? Thou hast hard already seven, husbands, neither has thou named after any of them." (3:7-8)

I don't know how I would view this if I were an outsider who didn't know all of the facts. Would I think it was her fault, as the maids did? I do know that I would feel leery if I were her possible eighth husband.

Answer: He is the angel Raphael in disguise.

"And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber." (3:17)

I think that if I knew I had an angel aiding me I would feel much more confident about my chances of being successful.

Answer: Brain

"And when the young man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out of the river, and would have devoured him. Then the angel said unto him, 'Take the fish.' And the young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it to land. To whom the angel said, 'Open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put them up safely.' So the young man did as the angel commanded him; and when they had roasted the fish, they did eat it." (6:2-5)

This sounds like a textbook example of Chekov's Gun. If these organs are so specifically mentioned, they will probably play a role later in the story.

Answer: She is of his kindred.

"Then the young man answered the angel, 'I have heard, brother Azarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.'...Then the angel said unto him, 'Dost thou not remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same night shall she be given thee in marriage.'" (6:13, 15)

Earlier, Tobit mentioned that his own wife was of his kinship. Many of the marriages mentioned in the Bible are between two people who have family connections.

Answer: He burns two of the organs from the fish.

"And when they had supped, they brought Tobias in unto her. And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish thereupon, and made a smoke therewith. The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him." (8:1-3)

Those fish organs sure came in handy, didn't they? After the demon flees, Tobias and Sara pray to God in gratitude.

Answer: He gives Tobias and Sara many gifts.

"Then Raguel bade his servants to fill the grave. And he kept the wedding feast fourteen days. For before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel had said unto him by an oath, that he should not depart till the fourteen days of the marriage were expired; And then he should take the half of his goods, and go in safety to his father; and should have the rest when I and my wife be dead." (8:18-21)

Raguel may have done those other things also, but only one is specifically mentioned in Scripture. Before he saw that Tobit was alive, Raguel had the servants dig a grave so that Tobias could be buried quietly if he had died.

Answer: He rubbed one the fish organs on his father's eyes.

"Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him, and took hold of his father: and he strake of the gall on his fathers' eyes, saying, 'Be of good hope, my father.' And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them; and the whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and when he saw his son, he fell upon his neck." (11:10-13)


There is that last organ. After being absent for several chapters, Tobit and Anna return to the story.

Answer: 8 years

"And he was eight and fifty years old when he lost his sight, which was restored to him after eight years: and he gave alms, and he increased in the fear of the Lord God, and praised him." (14:2)

In the story, both Tobit and Tobias ultimately have happy endings.