Numbers 10:29-36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 10:29-36

Here is, I. An account of what passed between Moses and Hobab, now upon this advance which the camp of Israel made towards Canaan. Some think that Hobab was the same with Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, and that the story, Exod. 18:1-27, should come in here; it seems more probable that Hobab was the son of Jethro, alias Reuel, or Raguel (Exod. 2:18), and that when the father, being aged, went to his own land (Exod. 18:27), he left his son Hobab with Moses, as Barzillai left Chimham with David;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:29

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;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:30

And he said unto him, I will not go ,.... Which was a very peremptory answer, he seemed determined, and at a point about it for the present, though it is, probable he afterwards changed his mind, like the young man in the parable, Matthew 21:29 , but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred ; which were prevailing motives with him, his native country, his relations, and father's house; to this resolution he came, both because of his substance, and because of his family, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:31

And he said ,.... That is, Moses, he replied to Hobab, unwilling to take him at his word and go without him: leave us not, I pray thee ; or "not now"; as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; at this present time, under our present difficulties, while we are in the wilderness; though Jarchi says the particle × × signifies beseeching or supplication: forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness ; that this will be our case, that we shall be obliged, before we get... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:32

And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be ,.... This repetition is for the confirmation of it, more strongly assuring him of what follows: that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee ; signifying that whatsoever they enjoyed in the land of Canaan he should have his share with them: the Targum of Jonathan adds,"in the division of the land;'Jarchi says, when the land was divided, the fatness of Jericho was given to the sons of Jethro, to Jonadab,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:33

And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey ,...., From Mount Sinai, so called, because the Lord descended upon it, and gave the law from it; so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan,"from the mount on which the glory of the Lord (or of his Shechinah or divine Majesty) was revealed.'This they left, after they had been nearly twelve months about it, and travelled three days' journey from it before the cloud rested, so as to abide, otherwise is stopped no doubt to give them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:34

And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day ,.... Not only upon the tabernacle, and upon the ark particularly, but it spread itself in journeying over the whole body of the people, and therefore said to be a covering to them from the heat of the sun, Psalm 105:39 ; as well as it was a guide unto them, and a token of the divine Presence with them, see Isaiah 4:5 when they went out of the camp ; or out of the place of their encampment, when they removed from Sinai; and appears... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:35

And it came to pass, when the ark set forward ,.... Carried by the Kohathites, Numbers 10:21 that Moses said ; in prayer, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem express it; and it was a prayer of faith, and prophetic of what would be done, and might serve greatly to encourage and animate the children of Israel in their journeys; for the following prayer was put up not only at this time, but at all times when the ark set forward; and so Ben Gersom says, it was the custom of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:36

And when it passed ,.... The ark, and the cloud over it: he said ; Moses stood and prayed, as before, according to the above Targums, in the following manner: return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel ; who were six hundred thousand footmen, besides women and children, Numbers 11:21 ; the import of this petition is, that upon the resting of the ark God would take up his abode with them, grant them his presence, and manifest his love, grace, mercy, and goodness unto them;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 10:29

Moses said unto Hobab - For a circumstantial account of this person see the notes on Exodus 2:15 , Exodus 2:16 ; (note), Exodus 2:18 ; (note); Exodus 3:1 ; Exodus 4:20 ; (note), Exodus 4:24 ; (note); and for the transaction recorded here, and which is probably out of its place, see Exodus 18:5 ; (note), 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... read more

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