Raphael’s Instructions

¹⁰ When he entered Media and already was approaching Ecbatana,^{[a] 11} Raphael said to the young man, “Brother Tobias.” “Here I am,” he answered. Then Raphael^[b] said to him, “We must stay this night in the home of Raguel. He is your relative, and he has a daughter named Sarah.

Arrival at Home of Raguel

7 Now when they^[a] entered Ecbatana, Tobias^[b] said to him, “Brother Azariah, take me straight to our brother Raguel.” So he took him to Raguel’s house, where they found him sitting beside the courtyard door. They greeted him first, and he replied, “Joyous greetings, brothers; welcome and good health!” Then he brought them into his house.

⁹ Then Raguel^[a] slaughtered a ram from the flock and received them very warmly.

Marriage of Tobias and Sarah

When they had bathed and washed themselves and had reclined to dine, Tobias said to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me my kinswoman^[b] Sarah.” ¹⁰ But Raguel overheard it and said to the lad, “Eat and drink, and be merry tonight. For no one except you, brother, has the right to marry my daughter Sarah. Likewise I am not at liberty to give her to any other man than yourself, because you are my nearest relative. But let me explain to you the true situation more fully, my child. ¹¹ I have given her to seven men of our kinsmen, and all died on the night when they went in to her. But now, my child, eat and drink, and the Lord will act on behalf of you both.” But Tobias said, “I will neither eat nor drink anything until you settle the things that pertain to me.” So Raguel said, “I will do so. She is given to you in accordance with the decree in the book of Moses, and it has been decreed from heaven that she be given to you. Take your kinswoman;^[c] from now on you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from today and forever. May the Lord of heaven, my child, guide and prosper you both this night and grant you mercy and peace.” ¹² Then Raguel summoned his daughter Sarah. When she came to him he took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias,^[d] saying, “Take her to be your wife in accordance with the law and decree written in the book of Moses. Take her and bring her safely to your father. And may the God of heaven prosper your journey with his peace.” ¹³ Then he called her mother and told her to bring writing material; and he wrote out a copy of a marriage contract, to the effect that he gave her to him as wife according to the decree of the law of Moses. ¹⁴ Then they began to eat and drink.

⁴ When the parents^[a] had gone out and shut the door of the room, Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah,^[b] “Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety.” ⁵ So she got up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. Tobias^[c] began by saying,

⁸ And they both said, “Amen, Amen.” ⁹ Then they went to sleep for the night.

But Raguel arose and called his servants to him, and they went and dug a grave,

The First Commandment

²⁸ One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; ³⁰ you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ³² Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; ³³ and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.