Sarah

7That same day, something happened in Ecbatane, a city in the land of Media. Sara, the daughter of Raguel, was shamed by her father's servant girls.

It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media Sara the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father’s maids;

NoteEcbatane was a big city in a land called Media, far to the east. To be shamed is to have people say unkind things about you. Servant girls worked in the house for Sara's family.

8She had been married to seven husbands. Asmodeus, the evil spirit, had killed each one. They died before any of them slept with her. The servant girls said to her, "Don't you know that you strangled your husbands? You have had seven husbands already. You never took the name of any of them.

Because that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou not know, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast had already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.

NoteAn evil spirit is a bad being that people cannot see. To strangle someone is to squeeze their neck so they cannot breathe. Taking a husband's name meant really becoming part of his family.

9So why do you hit us because of them? If they are dead, go away and follow them. May we never see a son or a daughter from you."

Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be dead, go thy ways after them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter.

Note"Go away and follow them" is a mean way of saying "you should die too." The servant girls are being very unkind to Sara.

10When Sara heard this, she was very sad. She thought about hanging herself. Then she said, "I am my father's only daughter. If I do this, people will shame him. I will bring his old age down to the grave with sorrow."

Whe she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she thought to have strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter of my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I shall bring his old age with sorrow unto the grave.

NoteThe grave is the place where dead people are buried. Sara means that her trouble could make her father die sad.

11Then she prayed at the window. She said, "Blessed are you, O Lord my God. Your holy and shining name is blessed and honored forever. Let everything you made praise you forever.

Then she prayed toward the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable for ever: let all thy works praise thee for ever.

NoteSara's people prayed by an open window when they lived far from home. They faced the city they came from. "Blessed are you" is a way of saying "I praise you."

12And now, O Lord, I turn my eyes and my face toward you,

And now, O Lord, I set mine eyes and my face toward thee,

13and I say this: take me away from the earth, so I never hear these hurtful words again.

And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear no more the reproach.

14You know, Lord, that I am clean from any sin with a man.

Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man,

Note"Clean" here means Sara has done nothing wrong at all. She has never been with a man.

15You know I never made my own name dirty, or my father's name, here in the land where we were taken. I am my father's only daughter. He has no other child to take what he owns. He has no close relative, and no living son, for me to keep myself for as a wife. My seven husbands are already dead. So why should I live? But if you do not want me to die, then be kind to me. Have pity on me, so I never hear these hurtful words again."

And that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, neither hath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands are already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach.

Note"Take what he owns" means to get his house and land after he dies. Back then a woman often married a cousin or another close relative. That way the family kept its land and its name.

16The prayers of both of them were heard by the great God in all his glory.

So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the great God.

Note"Glory" means how great and shining God is.

17And Raphael was sent to heal them both. He was to scrape the white film off Tobit's eyes. He was to give Sara, the daughter of Raguel, to Tobias, the son of Tobit, as his wife. He was also to tie up Asmodeus, the evil spirit. Sara belonged to Tobias by family right. At that very same time, Tobit came home and went into his house. And Sara, the daughter of Raguel, came down from her upstairs room.

And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit’s eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.

NoteRaphael is an angel, a messenger God sends to help people. A white film is a cloudy skin over the eye that stops a person from seeing. To tie up the evil spirit means to stop him from hurting anyone. "By family right" means Tobias was her closest relative, so the family rules said he should marry her. Houses then often had a room built on the flat roof.

10the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we will stay with Raguel. He is part of your family. He has one daughter, and only one. Her name is Sara. I will speak up for her, so she may be given to you as your wife.

The angel said to the young man, Brother, to day we shall lodge with Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath one only daughter, named Sara; I will speak for her, that she may be given thee for a wife.

NoteRaguel is a man from Tobias's own family, far from home. Sara is his daughter. Long ago a young man did not ask a girl to marry him himself. Someone spoke to her father first, and her father decided.

11"The right to her belongs to you. You are the only one from her family.

For to thee doth the right of her appertain, seeing thou only art of her kindred.

NoteIn those days, land and money stayed inside one family. Sara has no brothers, so she must marry a relative. Then her family's land will not be lost to strangers. Tobias is her closest relative, so he has the first chance.

12"The girl is lovely and wise. Now listen to me. I will speak to her father. When we come back from Rages, we will hold the wedding. I know that Raguel cannot give her to any other man. The law of Moses says so. If he did, he would deserve to die. The right to what her family owns belongs to you, more than to anyone else."

And the maid is fair and wise: now therefore hear me, and I will speak to her father; and when we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage: for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the law of Moses, but he shall be guilty of death, because the right of inheritance doth rather appertain to thee than to any other.

NoteThe law of Moses is the set of rules God gave his people long ago. Moses was the leader who brought those rules to them. The rules said the family's land had to stay in the family.

13Then the young man answered the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard about this girl. She has been given to seven men. They all died in the room where the bride waits.

Then the young man answered the angel, I have heard, brother Azarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.

NoteThe room where the bride waits is a special room. It is made ready for a new husband and wife on their wedding night. Seven men had already died in that room.

14"And I am my father's only son. I am afraid. If I go to her, I may die like the men before me. An evil spirit loves her. It hurts no one but the men who come to her. So I am afraid that I will die too. Then my father and my mother would go down to the grave in sorrow because of me. They have no other son to bury them."

And now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I go in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a wicked spirit loveth her, which hurteth no body, but those which come unto her; wherefore I also fear lest I die, and bring my father’s and my mother’s life because of me to the grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to bury them.

NoteChildren were expected to bury their parents when the parents died. It was one of the most important jobs a son had. Tobias is the only son, so no one else could do it for them.

15Then the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the rules your father gave you? He told you to marry a wife from your own family. So listen to me, my brother. She will be given to you as your wife. Do not think about the evil spirit. This very night she will be given to you in marriage.

Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same night shall she be given thee in marriage.

NoteTobias's father told him to marry someone from his own family. Long ago people often married a cousin or another relative. That kept the family and its land together.

16"When you come into the room where the bride waits, take the ashes of the incense. Lay some of the fish's heart and liver on them. Make smoke with it.

And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it:

NoteIncense is a sweet smelling thing people burned, like a candle for the nose. The soft ashes were left behind after it burned. Tobias will lay the fish parts on those hot ashes.

17"The devil will smell it and run away. He will never come back again. But when you go to her, both of you get up and pray to God, who is kind. He will feel sorry for you and keep you safe. Do not be afraid. She was set apart for you from the beginning. You will keep her safe, and she will go with you. And I think she will have children with you." When Tobias heard these things, he loved her. His heart was joined to her strongly.

And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and pray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you: fear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that she shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things, he loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her.

NoteSet apart for you from the beginning means God chose her for you long ago. The angel is telling Tobias this marriage was always meant to happen.

1They came to the city of Ecbatana. They went to the house of Raguel. Sara came out to meet them. They greeted each other. Then she brought them inside the house.

And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of Raguel, and Sara met them: and after they had saluted one another, she brought them into the house.

NoteEcbatana was a city far away from Tobias's home. Getting there took many days of walking.

2Raguel said to his wife Edna, "This young man looks so much like my cousin Tobit!"

Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this young man to Tobit my cousin!

3Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brothers?" They said, "We are sons of Naphtali. We are captives in the city of Nineveh."

And Raguel asked them, From whence are ye, brethren? To whom they said, We are of the sons of Nephthalim, which are captives in Nineve.

NoteNaphtali was one of the big family groups of Israel. Captives are people taken away from home by soldiers. Their families had been carried off to live in Nineveh, a city in another land.

4Then he said to them, "Do you know Tobit, our relative?" They said, "We know him." Then he asked, "Is he well?"

Then he said to them, Do ye know Tobit our kinsman? And they said, We know him. Then said he, Is he in good health?

5They said, "He is alive, and he is well." And Tobias said, "He is my father."

And they said, He is both alive, and in good health: and Tobias said, He is my father.

6Then Raguel jumped up. He kissed Tobias, and he cried.

Then Raguel leaped up, and kissed him, and wept,

7He blessed him and said, "You are the son of an honest, good man." Then he heard that Tobit was blind. That made him sad, and he cried.

And blessed him, and said unto him, Thou art the son of an honest and good man. But when he had heard that Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept.

NoteTo bless someone means to say kind words over them. You are asking God to be good to that person.

8Edna his wife cried too, and so did Sara his daughter. They welcomed their guests gladly. They killed a ram from the flock. They put plenty of food on the table. Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, tell him the things you talked about on the road. Let this matter be settled."

And likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter wept. Moreover they entertained them cheerfully; and after that they had killed a ram of the flock, they set store of meat on the table. Then said Tobias to Raphael, Brother Azarias, speak of those things of which thou didst talk in the way, and let this business be dispatched.

NoteA ram is a grown male sheep. Killing an animal for a big meal was how people showed guests they were welcome and important.

9So he told Raguel about it. Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat and drink and be glad.

So he communicated the matter with Raguel: and Raguel said to Tobias, Eat and drink, and make merry:

10It is right for you to marry my daughter. But I will tell you the truth.

For it is meet that thou shouldest marry my daughter: nevertheless I will declare unto thee the truth.

11I have given my daughter to seven men to be their wife. Each one died on the night he came to her. But for now, be glad." But Tobias said, "I will not eat anything here. First we must agree and make a promise to each other."

I have given my daughter in marriage to seven men, who died that night they came in unto her: nevertheless for the present be merry. But Tobias said, I will eat nothing here, till we agree and swear one to another.

NoteEarlier in this story, an evil spirit killed each of Sara's husbands. That is why Raguel warns Tobias before he says yes.

12Raguel said, "Then take her now, the way it is done. You are her relative, and she is yours. May God, who is kind, make all things go well for you."

Raguel said, Then take her from henceforth according to the manner, for thou art her cousin, and she is thine, and the merciful God give you good success in all things.

NoteIn this family, a woman was supposed to marry a relative. That kept the family and its land together.

13Then he called his daughter Sara. She came to her father. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias to be his wife. He said, "Here, take her, as the law of Moses says. Take her home to your father." And he blessed them.

Then he called his daughter Sara, and she came to her father, and he took her by the hand, and gave her to be wife to Tobias, saying, Behold, take her after the law of Moses, and lead her away to thy father. And he blessed them;

NoteThe law of Moses was the set of rules God gave the people of Israel long ago. Moses was the leader who first gave them those rules.

14He called his wife Edna. He took a scroll and wrote out an agreement. Then he sealed it.

And called Edna his wife, and took paper, and did write an instrument of covenants, and sealed it.

NoteA scroll was a long sheet of paper rolled up. People used scrolls before there were books. To seal it, he pressed a mark into soft wax. That showed everyone the writing was real.

15Then they began to eat.

Then they began to eat.

16After that Raguel called his wife Edna. He said to her, "Sister, get the other room ready. Bring her in there."

After Raguel called his wife Edna, and said unto her, Sister, prepare another chamber, and bring her in thither.

NoteRaguel calls his wife "Sister" as a warm, loving name. She is not really his sister.

17She did what he asked her to do. She brought Sara into that room. She cried, and she received her daughter's tears. Then she said to her,

Which when she had done as he had bidden her, she brought her thither: and she wept, and she received the tears of her daughter, and said unto her,

NoteWiping away someone's tears was a way of comforting them. Edna held her daughter while she cried.

18"Take comfort, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven and earth be kind to you after this sadness. Take comfort, my daughter."

Be of good comfort, my daughter; the Lord of heaven and earth give thee joy for this thy sorrow: be of good comfort, my daughter.

10Then Raguel got up. He gave him Sara his wife, and half of all he owned: servants, cattle, and money.

Then Raguel arose, and gave him Sara his wife, and half his goods, servants, and cattle, and money:

NoteWhen a daughter married, her father often gave gifts to help the new family start out. Cattle means cows and other farm animals, which made a family rich.

11He blessed them and sent them away. He said, "May the God of heaven give you a good trip, my children."

And he blessed them, and sent them away, saying, The God of heaven give you a prosperous journey, my children.

NoteTo bless someone is to say kind words asking God to care for them.

12He said to his daughter, "Honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law. They are your parents now. Then I will hear good things about you." And he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, "May the Lord of heaven bring you home safe, my dear brother. May I see children born to you and my daughter Sara before I die. Then I can be glad before the Lord. See, I trust you with my daughter. Do not treat her badly."

And he said to his daughter, Honour thy father and thy mother in law, which are now thy parents, that I may hear good report of thee. And he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, The Lord of heaven restore thee, my dear brother, and grant that I may see thy children of my daughter Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the Lord: behold, I commit my daughter unto thee of special trust; where are do not entreat her evil.

NoteA wife usually went to live with her husband's family. So Raguel tells Sara that Tobias's parents are her parents now. Edna calls Tobias "my dear brother" as a warm name for someone in the family.

16Then Tobit went out to the gate of Nineveh to meet his son's wife. He was full of joy and praised God. The people who saw him walking were amazed, because he could see again.

Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of Nineve, rejoicing and praising God: and they which saw him go marvelled, because he had received his sight.

NoteCities long ago had a big wall around them. The gate was the doorway in the wall. People met there to talk and greet each other.

17Tobit thanked God in front of them all, because God had shown him mercy. He came near to Sara, his son's wife. He blessed her and said, "Welcome, daughter. Blessed be God, who has brought you to us. Blessed be your father and your mother." And all his family in Nineveh were glad.

But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed her, saying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought thee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among all his brethren which were at Nineve.

NoteSara is the woman Tobias married. She is new to this family and this city.

18Then Achiacharus came, and Nasbas his brother's son.

And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother’s son, came:

NoteThese are two more people in Tobit's family. Their names are hard to say. Achiacharus sounds like ak-EE-a-kar-us.

19Tobias' wedding was kept for seven days, with great joy.

And Tobias’ wedding was kept seven days with great joy.

NoteA wedding long ago was not just one day. Family and friends ate and sang together for a whole week.

11I will not keep anything hidden from you. I said it is good to keep a king's secret hidden. But it brings honor to tell what God has done.

Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I said, It was good to keep close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable to reveal the works of God.

12When you prayed, and when Sara your son's wife prayed, I carried the memory of your prayers before the Holy One. And when you buried the dead, I was with you too.

Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One: and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise.

Note"The Holy One" is a name for God here. The angel carried their prayers to God, a little like carrying a letter.

13You did not wait. You got up and left your dinner to go and cover the dead. Your good deed was not hidden from me. I was with you.

And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed was not hid from me: but I was with thee.

NoteTo cover the dead means to bury them. Tobit's people believed burying the dead was very important. Earlier the king had told everyone not to do it. Tobit buried them anyway, even though it was dangerous.

14And now God has sent me to heal you and Sara your son's wife.

And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law.

15I am Raphael. I am one of the seven holy angels. We carry the prayers of God's holy people. We go in and out before the glory of the Holy One."

I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

NoteRaphael is a name. It means "God heals." People long ago spoke of seven angels who stand closest to God. Glory means the bright shining that shows God is there.