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Tobit 8:2-4
New Catholic Bible
Tobit 8:2-4
New Catholic Bible
2 Then Tobiah recalled Raphael’s instructions. He removed the liver and heart of the fish from the bag where he had stored them, and he placed them on the embers of the incense. 3 The odor of the fish so repelled the demon that he fled to Upper Egypt.[a] However, Raphael followed him there and bound him hand and foot. Then he returned at once.
4 [b]When the girl’s parents had left the room and closed the door behind them, Tobiah got out of bed and said to Sarah, “Arise, my beloved. Let us pray and implore our Lord to grant us his mercy and protection.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Tobit 8:3 Upper Egypt: possibly refers to the Sahara Desert. Infecund and therefore “cursed,” deserts were believed to be the dwelling of demons (see Isa 13:21; Mt 4:1; 12:43). The bonds indicate that the devil has been rendered impotent.
- Tobit 8:4 The Vulgate reads (vv. 4-6): “4Then Tobiah exhorted his bride: ‘Sarah, arise and let us pray to God today, and tomorrow, and the next day. These three nights are set apart for our union with God. When the third night is over, we will be joined in one, you and I. 5For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens who do not know God.’ 6So they both arose and prayed earnestly together that health might be given their union.”
