Tobit

Sarah’s Wedding

When they arrived in Ecbatana, Tobiah said to Raphael: “Friend Azarias, take me straightaway to our friend Raguel.” So Raphael led Tobiah to Raguel’s house, and they found Raguel sitting by the door of the courtyard.

Raguel said to his wife, Edna: “How this young man resembles Tobit, the son of my uncle!”

Edna questioned them: “Where have you come from, my friends?” They replied: “We are the sons of Naphtali who live as exiles in Nineveh.”

She asked them: “Do you know my kinsman, Tobit?” They said: “Yes, we know him.” She continued: “Is he in good health?”

They answered: “Yes, he is alive and well.” Then Tobiah said: “Tobit is my father.”

Raguel ran towards him and covered him with kisses, and broke into tears.

Then, in tears, he blessed Tobiah and said to him: Blessings to you; you are the son of a good and worthy man! What a tragedy that such a just and generous man should go blind!”He embraced his relative Tobiah and continued to weep.

His wife Edna and his daughter Sarah also wept, and they received Tobiah and Raphael with great kindness.

They killed a sheep and served numerous dishes.After they had bathed and washed, as they were relaxing before the meal, Tobiah said to Raphael: Friend Azarias, ask Raguel to give me Sarah, my kinswoman. Discuss what you were mentioning during our journey so that the matter may be resolved and completed.”

Raguel overheard the conversation, and he said to Tobiah: “Eat, drink, and be merry tonight. You are the man who has the most right to take Sarah, my daughter, because you are my relative. Indeed, I can’t give her to any other man but you, because you are my closest relative. But, my son, I must tell you the whole story.

I gave her to seven husbands from among our relatives. They each died on the wedding night. But, for the moment, my son, eat and drink, and the Lord will arrange things for you.”Tobiah said: “I shall eat nothing if you do not stop now and bring this matter to a conclusion.”Raguel said to Tobiah: Take her from now on; I give her to you according to the law of Moses, and you must understand that God himself gives her to you. Accept your kinswoman; from now on, you are her brother and she is your sister. She is yours from this day forward and forever. May God bless you this night, and may He grant you both His mercy and peace.”

He called his daughter Sarahh and, taking her by the hand, he gave her to Tobiah as his wife. He said: “According to Moses’ law, take her now and bring her to your father’s house.” And he blessed them.

Raguel then called Edna his wife; taking a sheet of parchment, he wrote down a matrimonial contract, and they both affixed their seals.

Then they all began to eat.

Raguel called his wife and said to her: “My sister, prepare the other room and take Sarah there.”

Edna did as Raguel told her, and she took Sarah to this room; Sarah began to cry. Edna dried her daughter’s tears and said:

“Have courage, my child, the God of heaven and earth will change your sorrow into joy. Have confidence, my daughter!” Then she left.