Arrival at Raguel’s Home

¹ When they entered Ecbatana, he said to him, “Brother Azarias, lead me directly to Raguel our brother.” And he led him to the house of Raguel, and they found him seated beside the door of the courtyard. They greeted him first, and he said to them, “Many greetings, brothers; welcome, and good health to you.” And he led them into his house.

² Then he said to Edna his wife, “How much this young man resembles Tobit, my kinsman!”

³ And Edna enquired of them, saying to them, “Where are you from, brothers?” They answered her, “We are from the sons of Naphtali, from among those taken captive in Nineveh.”

⁴ So she said to them, “Do you know our brother Tobit?” And they said to her, “We indeed know him.” And she asked them, “Is he in good health?”

⁵ They said to her, “He is alive and in good health.” And Tobias said, “He is my father.”

⁶ Then Raguel sprang up and kissed him and wept,

⁷ and he spoke and said to him, “Blessing be upon you, child, son of that good and noble father! O most wretched of evils, that a just man, one who practised deeds of mercy, was rendered blind.” Then he fell upon the neck of his kinsman Tobias and wept.

⁸ And his wife Edna wept over him, and their daughter Sarah likewise wept.

⁹ Then he killed a ram from the flock and welcomed them earnestly.

Marriage of Tobias and Sarah

When they had bathed and washed themselves and reclined at table to eat, Tobias said to Raphael, “Brother Azarias, speak to Raguel, that he might give Sarah my sister to me.”

¹⁰ Raguel heard this and said to the youth, “Eat, drink, and be merry this night, for there is no person for whom it is proper to take Sarah my daughter besides you, brother. Likewise I myself do not have authority to give her to another man besides you, for you are nearest kin to me. But I will nevertheless explain the truth to you, child.

¹¹ I gave her to seven husbands from among our brothers, and they all died the night on which they were going in to be with her. But now, child, eat and drink, and the Lord will act among you.” And Tobias said, “I will surely eat nothing here nor will I drink until you settle the matters that concern me.” So Raguel said to him, “I hereby do it, and she is given to you according to the judgement of the book of Moses. It has been decided from heaven that she be given to you. Receive your sister. From now on you are her brother and she your sister. She is given to you from today and for ever, and may the Lord of heaven lead you both on a good path this night, child, and may he bring mercy and peace upon you both.”

¹² Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias and said, “Receive your wife, given to you according to the law and according to the judgement written in the book of Moses. Take her and go to your father safe and sound. And may the God of heaven prosper your way in peace.”

¹³ And he called her mother, and he told her to bring a scroll and he wrote a marriage contract in the scroll, to the effect that he gave her to him as a wife according to the judgement of the law of Moses.

¹⁴ With that, they began to eat and drink.

¹⁵ And Raguel called Edna his wife and said to her, “Sister, prepare the other room and lead Sarah there.”

¹⁶ So she proceeded to furnish the room as he said to her and led her there. Then she wept over her and wiped away her tears and said to her,

¹⁷ “Take heart, daughter; may the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief. Take heart, daughter.” And she went out.