In Tobit 5:2, Tobit is instructing his son Tobias to travel to Media to retrieve a large sum of money he had deposited there many years ago with a man named Gabael. Tobias is hesitant, and the verse reflects his concern:
"But how could I receive the money, since I don’t know him?”
This verse expresses a valid and practical concern:
Lack of Identification/Introduction: Tobias doesn't personally know Gabael. He doesn't have a letter of introduction, a password, or any form of proof to convince Gabael that he is indeed Tobit's son and has the right to claim the money.
Fear of Fraud: In those times (and even today), it would be risky to hand over a large sum of money to someone you don't know. Gabael might suspect Tobias is an imposter trying to steal the money.
Logistical Challenge: Simply showing up and saying "I'm Tobit's son, give me the money" is unlikely to work. Tobias recognizes he needs some form of credible verification to successfully complete the task.
In essence, the verse highlights the difficulty and potential danger of the situation. It sets the stage for Tobit needing to provide more guidance and assurances to Tobias, which he subsequently does in the following verses, including finding a trustworthy traveling companion (the angel Raphael in disguise).
In Tobit 5:2, Tobit is instructing his son Tobias to travel to Media to retrieve a large sum of money he had deposited there many years ago with a man named Gabael. Tobias is hesitant, and the verse reflects his concern:
"But how could I receive the money, since I don’t know him?”
This verse expresses a valid and practical concern:
Lack of Identification/Introduction: Tobias doesn't personally know Gabael. He doesn't have a letter of introduction, a password, or any form of proof to convince Gabael that he is indeed Tobit's son and has the right to claim the money.
Fear of Fraud: In those times (and even today), it would be risky to hand over a large sum of money to someone you don't know. Gabael might suspect Tobias is an imposter trying to steal the money.
Logistical Challenge: Simply showing up and saying "I'm Tobit's son, give me the money" is unlikely to work. Tobias recognizes he needs some form of credible verification to successfully complete the task.
In essence, the verse highlights the difficulty and potential danger of the situation. It sets the stage for Tobit needing to provide more guidance and assurances to Tobias, which he subsequently does in the following verses, including finding a trustworthy traveling companion (the angel Raphael in disguise).
