And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.
The verse records Hobab's answer to Moses' invitation to journey with Israel, in which he declines to go and declares he will leave for his own land and his own relatives. Hobab was Moses' brother-in-law and belonged to the Kenites, a people who worshiped God though not wholly free from idolatry and who were friendly toward Israel. Despite that first refusal he did go with Israel through the wilderness wanderings and gave them valuable service by his knowledge of the country. For that friendship to Israel the Kenites dwelling among the Amalekites were spared when judgment came to destroy the Amalekites, showing that God remembers mercy even while inflicting judgment.
The invitation surrounding the verse, with its promise to share whatever goodness the Lord bestows on His people, is to be used to urge those showing interest to join in the Lord's work. Spoken to those who attend meetings and become interested in the truth, it calls the hesitating to place themselves wholly and courageously on the Lord's side to receive and live the truth, with the assurance that those already in the truth will share with them the goodness the Lord does for His people.
The verse records Hobab's answer to Moses' invitation to journey with Israel, in which he declines to go and declares he will leave for his own land and his own relatives. Hobab was Moses' brother-in-law and belonged to the Kenites, a people who worshiped God though not wholly free from idolatry and who were friendly toward Israel. Despite that first refusal he did go with Israel through the wilderness wanderings and gave them valuable service by his knowledge of the country. For that friendship to Israel the Kenites dwelling among the Amalekites were spared when judgment came to destroy the Amalekites, showing that God remembers mercy even while inflicting judgment.
The invitation surrounding the verse, with its promise to share whatever goodness the Lord bestows on His people, is to be used to urge those showing interest to join in the Lord's work. Spoken to those who attend meetings and become interested in the truth, it calls the hesitating to place themselves wholly and courageously on the Lord's side to receive and live the truth, with the assurance that those already in the truth will share with them the goodness the Lord does for His people.