Tobit 6:10-18

Raphael instructs Tobias

10 When he arrived in Media and was already coming within reach of Ecbatana,
11 Raphael said to the lad, "Tobias my brother!" He replied, "I'm here!" Raphael said, "Tonight we must lodge with Raguel your relative. He has a daughter named Sarah.
12 Except for her, he has no other son or daughter. Of all men you are her closest relative. The right to inherit her and her father's estate is yours. The girl is sensible, courageous, and very beautiful; moreover, her father loves her and is a good man."
13 He continued, "It's right for you to marry her. So listen to me, brother: I'll speak to her father about the girl tonight so that we can take her as a bride for you. And when we return from Rages, we will celebrate her wedding. I know that Raguel can't keep her from you, nor can he promise her to someone else without incurring the death penalty according to the ruling of the scroll from Moses. He knows that the regulation for inheritance makes it fitting that you, rather than any other man, should marry his daughter. So now listen to me, brother: We will speak about the girl tonight and arrange for her engagement to you. When we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your home."
14 Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, I've heard that she has already been given to seven men and that they died in the bridal chamber. They dropped dead the very night they tried to have sex with her. I've heard people saying that a demon kills them.
15 Now I'm also afraid, because the demon loves her and doesn't harm her but kills anyone who desires to approach her. I'm my father's only child, and I'm afraid that I will die and bring my father and mother down to their graves with grief over me. Moreover, they don't have another son to bury them."
16 Raphael said to him, "Don't you remember your father's instructions, that you should take a wife from among your father's relatives? Now listen to me, my brother: Don't worry about this demon. Take her, for I know that tonight she will be given to you as your wife.
17 When you enter into the bridal chamber, take some of the fish's liver and heart and lay them over the warm incense coals. This will let off an odor,
18 and the demon will smell it, flee, and never stalk her again. And before you have sex with her, the two of you must rise and pray and plead with the Lord of heaven for mercy and deliverance. So don't be afraid; she has been assigned to you before the world came into being. You will save her, and she will go with you. I'm convinced that you will also have children by her, and they will be like brothers and sisters to you. So stop worrying." When Tobias heard Raphael's words, and learned that she was his relative and descendant from his father's house, he fell deeply in love with her and his heart was united with her.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. DSS Aram, OL; LXX2 omits loves her and.
  • [b]. OL; LXX2 Raguel
  • [c]. DSS Aram, OL; LXX2 omits loves her and.
  • [d]. LXX1; omitted in LXX2, OL
  • [e]. LXX1 return
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