The Book of Tobit

The Book of Tobit, whose main parts were written in Aramaic around 200 BCE, tells the story of the healing of blind Tobit and the liberation of young Sarah from the demon Asmodaeus, who had already killed seven of her future husbands on their wedding night. Both actions are described as “healing,” which is rendered possible following the prayers of the protagonists and through the instruction of the angel Raphael. Since the angel is sent by God, medical concepts (both magical and rational) are integrated into the Yahweh religion. By framing the book with the motifs “Exile/Nineveh” and “Land/Jerusalem,” the narrative moreover implies a collective aspect. Against this backdrop, the protagonists’ individual stories may be understood as a paradigm of God’s saving action in history.