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ResoluteSheep
Guest
About the part where the Archangel Raphael tells Tobias to cut out fish liver and expose it to chase away some demon. Did that actually work in the old times? I didn’t know demons hated the stench of fish liver
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Mintaka
Guest
If you read the originals or compare translations, you will see that it is a giant river monster, not a normal fish.
So yeah, a demon might flee that. But there is not much chance to run across giant river monsters in ordinary life.
So yeah, a demon might flee that. But there is not much chance to run across giant river monsters in ordinary life.
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USMC_Convert
Guest
Yeah, there might be, ever watch the show river monsters!!!
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ResoluteSheep
Guest
Even if it was I don’t think the demons would fear the river monsters… I mean they are not even made of flesh and blood. I read up abit and it states that it worked because God helped them. In olden times lots of ordinary methods were used as cures, such as when Jesus used mud to cure blindness. So maybe that explains it
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Garyjohn2
Guest
It’s an interesting passage. Perhaps some symbolism is at play? I wouldn’t say the ritual itself had any power, outside of it being what God/God’s messenger had commanded. It could be simply that the demon fled in the face of such an act of faith and obedience, no matter how odd the request. 
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Windmill
Guest
God speaks through all sorts of symbolic actions. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent, and all who gazed upon it would be healed of their snake bites. Could God have healed them anyway? Yes, but He oftentimes does something like this as a test of faith and to teach the people certain lessons. While I am no biblical scholar who can derive a “lesson” from the example in Tobias, it is safe to assume that God was the source of the power causing the demon to flee, not the nature of the ritual act. IOW, demons aren’t inherently afraid of fish entrails.
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dmar198
Guest
There is evidence that the fish’s parts were offered to God as a sacrifice in prayer for deliverance. Tobit 6:16-17 and Tobit 8:2 make this clearer by specifying that the fire had to be produced by means of incense and/or an incense censor. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered for the sins of the people, and this may be an example of that. In my opinion, the fish also has messianic significance. I think it was the offering of deliverance which scared the demon, backed up by the power of the Messiah who answered the prayer. My two cents.
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Dorothy
Guest
I do believe that symbolism is at play. Several years back I read St. John of the Cross description of the symbolism…and I don’t remember exactly what it was, but it is quite impressive and has something to do with our Lord Jesus Christ.It’s an interesting passage. Perhaps some symbolism is at play? I wouldn’t say the ritual itself had any power, outside of it being what God/God’s messenger had commanded. It could be simply that the demon fled in the face of such an act of faith and obedience, no matter how odd the request.
In the book of Tobit the fish is a symbol of Christ.
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John_Lazarus
Guest
Yeah, I think a lot of it had to do with obedience, not because there’s any juju involved. Look what happened to Lot’s wife when she *didn’t *obey God’s directive.
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Todd977
Guest
I don’t think there are any natural demon repellants. This was a miracle that just so happened to involve some natural elements. It was similar to the following miracles:
The tree/wood that sweetened the bitter waters of Marah. (Exodus 15:25)
The bronze serpent that cured snake bites. (Numbers 21:9)
The waters of the Jordan River that cured Naaman’s leprosy. (2 Kings 15:14)
The salt that made wholesome the city’s bad spring water. (2 Kings 2:21)
The mud/clay that cured blindness. (John 9:6)
The tree/wood that sweetened the bitter waters of Marah. (Exodus 15:25)
The bronze serpent that cured snake bites. (Numbers 21:9)
The waters of the Jordan River that cured Naaman’s leprosy. (2 Kings 15:14)
The salt that made wholesome the city’s bad spring water. (2 Kings 2:21)
The mud/clay that cured blindness. (John 9:6)
po18guy
Well-known member
The qualities of the fish were described by an angel (Annunication), it emerged from the water (Baptism), “willingly” gave its life/its blood was shed for the salvation of others (Crucifixion), was consumed for its benefit, salted (Matthew 5:13 Salt of the earth) and carried on a journey for sustenance (Eucharist/Viaticum), healed of blindness (Bartimeus, etc.) allowing Tobias to thereby honor his father (John 17 discourse), whose smoke rose to heaven (Ascension), expelled a demon (Gospel exorcisms) permitting a fruitful marriage (Matthew 19:4). There are other symbols, but I am glad the question was asked, as this opens a new line of contemplation for me on my favorite OT book.
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Dorothy
Guest
Thank you for this post!
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The_Serpent
Guest
Perhaps there is a symbolic, and prophetic explanation for this action. We often use the fish as a symbol fro Christ, who also performed the miracle of multiplying fish and bread. Consider also, Christ was pierced through the side by a spear on the cross; that is through his liver, then the heart. Put the symbols together, Tobit was symbolically healed by Raphael, by the power of Christ.
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sloth
Guest
When I read Tobit I took it to mean that only Tobias’s liver and heart from the fish could perform the miracles.
I don’t think that the text implied for people to use fish hearts and livers in this way.
I don’t think that the text implied for people to use fish hearts and livers in this way.
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Dorothy
Guest
That sounds exactly right! I remember, a long while back, reading about this from one of the books of St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church on prayer.Perhaps there is a symbolic, and prophetic explanation for this action. We often use the fish as a symbol fro Christ, who also performed the miracle of multiplying fish and bread. Consider also, Christ was pierced through the side by a spear on the cross; that is through his liver, then the heart. Put the symbols together, Tobit was symbolically healed by Raphael, by the power of Christ.
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