Books Jesus Read

Chapter 5: Suffering and Spirituality – Tobit and Sarah

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“Naphtali in captivity in Nineveh,” replied Tobias. “Tell us about your father,” said Raguel, “is he well?” When they heard that Tobit was blind, they all wept. Then they prepared a feast for their visitors, killing a ram from their flock. Meanwhile, Tobias asked Raphael about the plan they had discussed earlier. Raphael brought the matter up with Raguel who replied, “Eat, drink and be merry, brother Tobias, for my daughter Sarah is to be given to you in marriage. But first I must tell you the truth: to seven men I have given my daughter in marriage, but each one died on the night he first approached her. Yet here you are, her near kinsman, and so you should take her, and may the God of mercy grant you success in all things!” Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and he took her by the hand and gave her as wife to Tobias saying, “Take her, according to the law of Moses, and lead her away to your father.” Raguel then blessed the couple and called for writing materials on which he prepared the marriage covenant, and sealed it. After they had eaten together, he directed his wife to prepare the wedding chamber. As Edna prepared the room, she cried for her daughter saying, “Courage, my daughter! May the Lord of heaven and earth give you joy in place of your sorrow!” Now the time had come to consummate the marriage. Sarah was waiting for Tobias in the bed, but Tobias had remembered the words of Raphael. Taking the fish heart and liver, he mixed them with the burning incense so that they gave off smoke. When the demon smelled the smoke, he fled at once beyond the wilderness of Egypt,