Raguel of Ecbatana (Ῥαγουήλ, Rhagouēl). Husband of Edna and father of Sarah in the book of Tobit.

The book of Tobit records that Raguel was a Jew who lived with his family in Ecbatana in Media. His situation is illustrative of the difficulties that many Jews faced during the Assyrian exile. Although quite wealthy (Miller, Marriage, 114), he was isolated and geographically separated from his extended family (Albertz, Israel in Exile, 32).

The book of Tobit portrays Raguel as a traditional Jewish husband: He assumes an authoritative role over his daughter’s marriage, and at several points he gives commands to his wife (Loader, Pseudepigrapha, 163–66). His insistence that his daughter marry a close relative, as well as his dedication of his inheritance to his daughter, suggests that he held the law of Moses in high regard (Miller, Marriage, 74–76). Raguel’s character offers some comic relief to the account in Tobit 8:9–12, as he preemptively digs a grave for Tobias on the night of his wedding to Sarah, fearing ridicule from his neighbors for having another dead son-in-law. When Tobias is found alive the next morning, Raguel orders a servant to fill in the grave.