Gabael
1:
GABAEL (PERSON) [Gk Gabaēl (Γαβαηλ)]. 1. Ancestor of Tobit, described as a member of the tribe of Naphtali and mentioned in the opening genealogy of the book by the same name (Tob 1:1). Appealing to the Hebrew text of Tobit published by Fagius (HF), Simpson (APOT 1:202) suggests that Gabael (Heb gĕbāh˒ēl) might be read Gabriel (Heb gabrī˒el). The HF, however, is a free rendering of the story and of late origin (16th century), whereas by contrast the vast majority of the primary and secondary texts support the usual reading (Zimmerman 1958: 35, 44–45). A number of the names attributed to the relatives of Tobit are word plays, anticipating the deliverance from suffering which awaits him (Nickelsburg 1981: 40 n. 37). It may be, therefore, that the choice of the name Gabael, which means “El is lofty,” is likewise intentional and symbolic (McKenzie 1965: 291). Inasmuch as Tobit repeatedly admonishes his son Tobias to honor God, whatever the circumstances, the choice of the name Gabael may be a deliberate attempt to reinforce yet another of the narrative’s themes. As more than one writer has noted, the author emphasizes the “transcendent majesty of God” (Pfeiffer 1949: 282–83; Metzger 1957: 37–38; Nickelsburg 1981: 34).
2. A man of Rages, a city in Media, in whose care Tobit left 10 talents of silver (Tob 1:14) and to whom he sent his son Tobias for its recovery (4:1, 20). Described as the brother of Gabrias, Gabael returned the money in sealed bags to the angel Raphael and then attended the wedding feast held for Tobias and Sarah (9:2–5). At the wedding, Gabael is said to have “blessed” the couple (9:6) and, although some Greek manuscripts read “And Tobias blessed his wife,” most scholars believe it was Gabael who gave the blessing in the original version of the story (Bückers 1953: 228 and Zimmerman APOT 1: 99).
Bibliography
Bückers, H. 1953. Die Bücher Esdras, Nehemias, Tobias, Judith und Esther. Herders Bibelk ommentar, Die Heilige Schrift für das Leben erklärt. 4/2. Freiburg.
McKenzie, J. 1965. Dictionary of the Bible. New York.
Metzger, B. 1957. An Introduction to the Bible. New York.
Nickelsburg, G. 1981. Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah. Philadelphia.
Pfeiffer, R. 1949. History of New Testament Times. New York.
Zimmerman, F. 1958. The Book of Tobit. Jewish Apocalyptic Literature. New York.
Frederick W. Schmidt
Freedman, D. N. (1996, c1992). The Anchor Bible Dictionary (2:862). New York: Doubleday.
2:
GABAEL
1. Ancestor of Tobit and a member of the tribe of Naphtali (Tb 1:1).
2. Brother or son of Gabrias and resident of Rages, a city in Media, with whom Tobit left in trust 10 talents of silver (Tb 1:14). Tobit later told his son Tobias about the money, and Tobias was led by the angel Raphael to Gabael (4:1, 20; 5:6; 6:9; 10:2).
Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). Tyndale Bible dictionary. Tyndale reference library (505). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
3:
Gabael (Gk. Gabaḗl)
1. A Naphtalite, an ancestor of Tobit (Tob. 1:1).
2. A friend of Tobit and brother (or son) of Gabrias who lived at Rages in Media (Tob. 1:14). Tobit deposited 14 talents of silver with him and later sent his son Tobias to retrieve the money (Tob. 4:1, 20; 5:6; 10:2). Gabael returned the sum intact at the wedding feast of Tobias and Sarah (9:2–6).
Freedman, D. N., Myers, A. C., & Beck, A. B. (2000). Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible (474). Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans.
