Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

RAPHAEL

(Gk. Raphaḗl)

An angel, first mentioned in two postexilic Jewish books, Tobit and 1 Enoch. In 1 Enoch Raphael (“God heals”) is prominent in the angelic hierarchy (1 En. 20:3; 40:2, 8–9), and is one of the angels responsible for binding the armies of Azazel and casting them into the valley of fire (54:6). Tobit depicts Raphael along comparable lines, as “one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord” (Tob. 12:15). He follows the demon Asmodeus to the remote parts of Egypt and binds him there (Tob. 8:3).

Tobit, however, goes further in its depiction of angelic activity entering the human sphere. Raphael is dispatched by God in answer to the prayers of Tobit and Sarah “to heal them” (Tob. 3:17). He appears in human form as Azariah (“Yah helps”), and aids Tobias as guide, servant, mentor, and matchmaker. Toward the end of the book, when Tobit and Tobias are about to pay him for his services, Raphael reveals his true identity to them (Tob. 12:6-21). He exhorts them to piety, explains that he only appeared to eat and drink, commissions them to write an account of what has happened, and ascends to heaven while Tobit and Tobias praise God.

Will Soll

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

RAPHAEL

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)