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29 One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!”

30 But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”

31 “Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide. 32 If you do, we’ll share with you all the blessings the Lord gives us.”

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Moses invites His Father-in-Law to Accompany Israel

29 Then Moses told Reuel’s son Hobab, Moses’ relative by marriage[a] from Midian, “We are traveling to the place about which the Lord said ‘I will give it to you.’ So come with us and we’ll be good to you, because the Lord has spoken good things about Israel.”

30 But he said, “I won’t go with you because I’m returning to my land and to my own family.”

31 Then Moses[b] responded, “Please don’t leave us now, since you know where we can camp in the wilderness. You could be our guide.[c] 32 And when you come with us, the good things that the Lord will grant us, we’ll give you as well.”[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 10:29 The Heb. word can connote any family relationship established through marriage, including father-in-law or brother-in-law; cf. Judg 4:11; Exod 2:18 3:1, 18.
  2. Numbers 10:31 Lit. he
  3. Numbers 10:31 Lit. be eyes for us
  4. Numbers 10:32 Lit. we’ll cause to be good to you