Numbers 10:29

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

²⁹Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses' father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, "We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel."³⁰"I will not go," Hobab replied. "Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people." ³¹"Please do not leave us," Moses said, "since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. ³²If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us." ³³So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them. ³⁴And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp. ³⁵Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, "Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You." ³⁶And when it came to rest, he would say: "Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Exodus 2:18, Reuel, Exodus 3:1, Exodus 18:1, Exodus 18:27

the Lord: Genesis 12:7, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 15:18, Acts 7:5

come: Judges 1:16, Judges 4:11, 1 Samuel 15:6, Psalms 34:8, Isaiah 2:3, Jeremiah 50:5, Zechariah 8:21-23, Revelation 22:17

for the Lord: Numbers 23:19, Genesis 32:12, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 6:7, Exodus 6:8, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 36:4 - Reuel Joshua 2:14 - when the Lord Zechariah 8:23 - We will

Cross-References

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first river is Pishon; it winds through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Genesis 25:18
Ishmael's descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

1 Samuel 15:7
Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

1 Kings 9:28
They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there-420 talents-and delivered it to Solomon.

1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

1 Chronicles 8:18
Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.

1 Chronicles 9:10
From the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jachin;

1 Chronicles 9:13
and 1,760 of their relatives, the heads of their families, able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

Job 22:24
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,

Job 28:16
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite,

Moses's father in law,.... Some think this Hobab was the same with Jethro, whose father's name was Raguel or Reuel; so Jarchi and Ben Gersom; but rather Raguel or Reuel, and Jethro, seem to be the same, and was Moses's father-in-law, and this Hobab was the son of him, and brother of Zipporah, Moses's wife; and the same relation is designed whether the word is rendered his "father-in-law" or his "wife's brother", so Aben Ezra; as it may be either; if the former, then it may be joined to Raguel, if the latter, then to Hobab: Jethro or Raguel, Moses's father-in-law, came to see him as soon as he came to Horeb, and after some short stay with him returned to Midian, and left this his son Hobab, who remained with Moses unto this time; but now, as Israel was about to remove from the wilderness of Sinai, he showed a disposition to return to his own country, when Moses addressed him in order to persuade him to continue with them:

we are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; that is, the land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their posterity: Moses puts himself among the children of Israel as journeying towards Canaan, with an expectation to possess it; for as yet the decree, as Jarchi observes, was not made, or made manifest, that he should not enter it; or he said this, as others think, because he would not discourage the Israelites nor Hobab, who might argue from thence, that if he, by whom God had brought Israel out of Egypt, and had done such wonders by him, should not enter into the good! and, how should they? but as yet Moses himself knew not that he should not enter into it; however, he speaks of it as a certain thing, that God had promised to give it to Israel, and it might be depended upon; and now they were just going to set forward in their journey, in order to take possession of it, he entreats that Hobab would go with them:

come thou with us, and we will do thee good; by giving him a part of the spoils of their enemies, and a settlement in the land:

for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel; and he is faithful, who has promised and will perform.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hobab, the son of Raguel - Or Reuel Exodus 2:18. Reuel was probably not identical with Jethro: and Hobab was the brother-in-law, not the father-in-law, of Moses; the Hebrew word translated in the King James Version “father-in-law,” signifying simply any relation by marriage (Exodus 3:1 note). Hobab Judges 1:16; Judges 4:11 eventually accompanied the Israelites and obtained a settlement with them in the land of Canaan. Hobab and Jethro may have been brethren and sons of Reuel.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 10:29. Moses said unto Hobab — For a circumstantial account of this person see the notes on Exodus 2:15-16; Exodus 2:18; Exodus 3:1; Exodus 4:20; Exodus 4:24; and for the transaction recorded here, and which is probably out of its place, see Exodus 18:5, where the subject is discussed at large.

We are journeying — God has brought us out of thraldom, and we are thus far on our way through the wilderness, travelling towards the place of rest which he has appointed us, trusting in his promise, guided by his presence, and supported by his power. Come thou with us, and we will do thee good. Those who wish to enjoy the heavenly inheritance must walk in the way towards it, and associate with the people who are going in that way. True religion is ever benevolent. They who know most of the goodness of God are the most forward to invite others to partake of that goodness. That religion which excludes all others from salvation, unless they believe a particular creed, and worship in a particular way, is not of God. Even Hobab, the Arab, according to the opinion of Moses, might receive the same blessings which God had promised to Israel, provided he accompanied them in the same way.

The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. — The name Israel is taken in a general sense to signify the followers of God, and to them all the promises in the Bible are made. God has spoken good of them, and he has spoken good to them; and not one word that he hath spoken shall fail. Reader, hast thou left thy unhallowed connections in life? Hast thou got into the camp of the Most High? Then continue to follow God with Israel, and thou shalt be incorporated in the heavenly family, and share in Israel's benedictions.