Now …: This section begins with a connective of the loosest sort, “and,” which serves only to signal that the story is continuing but another stage has been reached.

When they entered Ecbatana: New Revised Standard Version indicates in a footnote that “he entered” is found in some manuscripts. In fact, this is what is found in the text we are following. But this should be treated as a translational matter rather than a textual one; they is clearly preferable to “he” in this context. It will be helpful to identify Raphael and Tobias; we may say, for example, “When Tobias and the angel Raphael entered the city of Ecbatana.” Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version call Ecbatana a “city.”

Brother … brother: New American Bible has “Brother … kinsman.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version trust the reader to remember who Raguel is. In many languages both Azariah (Raphael) and Raguel would be addressed with honorific or kinship terms. Tobias now considers Azariah to be a younger relative (see the note on 6.7) and would therefore address him in a number of languages as “younger brother.” Raguel is an elderly relative, a cousin of his father, so in many languages Tobias would refer to him as “Uncle Raguel.”

Take me straight to our brother Raguel: This may also be expressed as “take me to see Raguel as quickly as you can” (Good News Translation).

He took him to Raguel’s house: Good News Translation identifies he as “The angel.” This is another possible model for translators.

Sitting beside the courtyard door: Good News Translation has “sitting at the entrance to his courtyard,” but we may also translate “sitting beside the gate that led into his courtyard.” Raguel was evidently sitting in the street just outside the door. The door would lead into the courtyard, which was surrounded by the rooms of the house. See also the note on 2.9.

They greeted him first: See the note on 5.10.

Joyous greetings, brothers: Raguel doesn’t yet know that the two men are his relatives. So in some languages they need to be addressed quite formally until he finds out what their true relationship to him is; for example, “friends” or “young men.” On Raguel’s generous and hospitable greeting, see the notes on 5.10, 14, 17.

Welcome and good health: See the notes on 5.14, 16.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Tobit. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.