words of comfort on her wedding night [7:16]; and does not react to Tobit’s effusive welcome [11:17]. Her first word is “no”; “Amen!” is the only word she speaks in another’s presence [8:8] (50–51). Levine presents a strong case here. But need one discount the fact that some individuals are, by nature rather than gender, quiet and retiring, be they females or males?171 In any case, most readers would agree that great though Sarah’s suffering and frustration are (vv 10b, 13, 15), her love for her