“And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.”
Context:The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible and it narrates the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. In this particular verse, Moses is speaking to his father-in-law, Hobab, as the Israelites prepare to continue their journey.
Hobab, Moses’ Father-in-law:Hobab was the son of Raguel, who was also known as Jethro. Jethro was a priest of Midian and the father of Zipporah, who was Moses’ wife. Hobab was therefore Moses’ brother-in-law. It is worth noting that Hobab is not mentioned much in the biblical narrative, and this verse provides one of the few references to him.
Moses’ Invitation:Moses invites Hobab to join the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. Moses recognizes Hobab’s knowledge of the region and his experience living in the area, as Hobab was familiar with the wilderness. Moses acknowledges that God has promised the land to the Israelites and assures Hobab that they will do him good. This invitation demonstrates Moses’ desire for Hobab to share in the blessings and goodness that God has promised to the Israelites.
God’s Promises:Moses emphasizes that the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel. This refers to the promises God had made to the Israelites, including the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His commitment to bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey. Moses wants Hobab to understand that the journey they are embarking on is one guided by the promises and blessings of God.
