¹ So she stopped weeping.

Journey to Rages

² So the child went out, and the angel with him, and the dog came out and went along with them. The two journeyed along, and the first night came upon them, and they camped beside the Tigris river.

³ Then the child went down to wash his feet in the Tigris river. A large fish, leaping up from the river, tried to swallow the child’s foot, and he cried out.

⁴ The angel said to the boy, “Grab hold of the fish and master it!” So the young man took hold of the fish and dragged it up on the land.

⁵ Then the angel said to him, “Split the fish open and take out its gall and heart and liver and keep them with you, but throw away the entrails, for its gall and heart and liver are useful for medicine.”

⁶ So the boy split open the fish and gathered the gall, heart, and liver. And they broiled the fish and ate it, and left some to be salted. And the two journeyed on together until they came near to Media.

⁷ Then the boy questioned the angel and said to him, “Brother Azarias, what kind of medicine is in the fish’s heart and liver and in its gall?”

⁸ He said to him, “As for the fish’s heart and the liver, burn these in the presence of a man or woman who meets misfortune from a demon or evil spirit, and every such misfortune will flee from that person and not abide with him ever after.

⁹ And as for the gall, anoint the eyes of a person, upon which white films have formed, and breathe upon them (upon the white films), and they will be cured.”

Raphael’s Instructions

¹⁰ When he entered Media and was already drawing near to Ecbatana,

¹¹ Raphael said to the youth, “Brother Tobias?” And he said to him, “Here I am.” And he said to him, “We must lodge tonight with the family of Raguel. The man is a relative of yours, and he has a daughter named Sarah.

¹² He has no male child nor daughter, but only Sarah, and you are nearest kin to her, more entitled than all other men to inherit her, and it is right for you to inherit all that belongs to her father. The girl is sensible, courageous, and very beautiful, and her father is honourable.”

¹³ And he continued, “It has been shown to be right for you to take her. So listen to me, brother, and I will speak to her father about the girl this very night, that you might take her as your bride, and when we return from Rages we will celebrate her wedding feast. And I know that Raguel will certainly not be able to keep her from you nor to give her to another. He would be liable to the death penalty according to the judgement of the book of Moses, because he knows that the inheritance is proper for you to have, to take his daughter before any man. So now listen to me, brother, and we will speak about the girl this very night and we will get her betrothed to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and conduct her along with us to your house.”

¹⁴ Then Tobias answered Raphael, saying, “Brother Azarias, I heard that she has already been given to seven husbands and they died in the bridal chamber on the wedding night: when they were approaching her, they died. I also heard people saying that a demon kills them.

¹⁵ So now I am afraid, because it does not harm her, but if anyone wants to get close to her, it kills him. I am my father’s only son, and I am afraid lest I die and bring the lives of my father and mother down to their graves in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them.”

¹⁶ But the angel1 said to him, “Do you not remember your father’s commands, that he commanded you to take a wife from your father’s household? So listen to me now, brother, and do not make an issue of this demon, and take her, for I know indeed that a wife will be given to you this very night.

¹⁷ Now, when you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the liver of the fish, and the heart, and place these upon the ashes of the incense burner, and the smell will go forth,

¹⁸ and the demon will sense it, and he will flee and never appear round her again for all time. And when you are about to be with her, rise up first, both of you, and pray and implore the Lord of heaven, that mercy and deliverance might come upon you both. And do not be afraid, for she was made your portion from before eternity. You will deliver her, and she will go with you, and I assume that you will have children by her, and they will be like brothers to you. So do not make an issue of this.” When Tobias heard Raphael’s words, and that she was a sister to him from his father’s household, he loved her greatly and his heart fixed itself on her.