Of our kinsmen: This may also be expressed as “all of them relatives of ours.”
Went in to her: See 6.14. Good News Translation “as soon as they entered the bedroom” is dramatic, but appropriately so, and we can think the author would not mind. We know the marriages were never consummated (3.8), so the husbands obviously did not live very long after entering the room. New English Bible “died on their wedding night” is open to misunderstanding, since it leaves open the possibility of the men dying after having had intercourse.
The Lord will act on behalf of you both is literally “the Lord will work in you [plural].” This is a Hebrew idiom also found in 1 Sam 14.6, where it means “the Lord will help you.” The author may have chosen this idiom because, although its common use appears to indicate God’s favor and help, its literal meaning does not go that far; it is almost like saying the Lord will do something—whatever he likes. Raguel does not in fact believe that God will protect Tobias; in 8.9 he will dig a grave for his son-in-law. Here he apparently thinks he is feeding Tobias his last meal, and encourages him to go ahead and enjoy it. This is the third time we have been told the story of Sarah’s husbands (compare 3.8, the narrator’s account; 6.14-15, Tobias’s secondhand account), and only here do we hear nothing of the demon. The narrator knows the demon’s name, and Tobias knows of his existence, but Raguel is not going to upset things by mentioning him. New American Bible “I am sure the Lord will look after you both” seems to express a subtle cynicism.
Settle the things that pertain to me; that is, “do what I have coming.” Tobias is not asking Raguel for his “word,” as in Good News Translation, his promise to give him Sarah. He is asking for Sarah, right now, on the spot. Contemporary English Version has “until you make this marriage official,” or we may say “until you give me Sarah as my wife.”
She is given to you: Contemporary English Version renders this “I give my daughter Sarah to you as your wife.” It is a fact, not a promise, as in Good News Translation “I will give her to you.” With these very words Raguel gives his daughter to Tobias. The marriage is as simple as these words, as giving Sarah’s hand to Tobit, as writing a marriage contract.
In accordance with the decree in the book of Moses: By book of Moses or “Law of Moses,” Raguel is not referring to anything in particular in the Old Testament, which never prescribes any formalities constituting a wedding. For a comment on the similar phrase “law of Moses,” see 1.8.
The passive it has been decreed from heaven becomes active in Good News Translation: “God in heaven has arranged this marriage”; or we may translate “God in heaven wanted you to marry her.”
For kinswoman see 6.18.
From now on you are her brother and she is your sister will sound strange in some languages. Something like “from now on you will be husband and wife” is a possible alternative. Contemporary English Version combines this sentence and the following one as follows: “and from this moment you will forever be husband and wife.” This is another possible model.
May the Lord of heaven, my child, guide and prosper you both this night: The Lord of heaven means “the one who rules in heaven” (see 6.18). Guide and prosper translates one word, the verb occurring in 5.22 in the clause “his journey will be successful.” Raguel’s blessing on Tobit is intended to get him through this night. Another way to express this is “I pray that the Lord of heaven will be good to [or, bless] both of you tonight.”
Grant you mercy and peace: Here the content of God’s work is spelled out. In some languages this can be expressed as “be merciful and kind to you.”
An alternative model for verse 11 is:
• “I have already let seven of my relatives take Sarah as wife, and each one of them died when he went into the bedroom in order to sleep with her. So now, my son, please eat and drink, and the Lord will take care of you both.”
But Tobias answered, “I won’t eat or drink anything until you actually give me Sarah as my wife.”
Raguel said, “I will do it right now, Tobias. I give my daughter Sarah to you as your wife just as the Law of Moses commands. God himself has arranged this marriage, so from now on you will be husband and wife. I pray that the one who rules in heaven will take care of both of you tonight and be kind and merciful to you.”
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Tobit. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.