Please do not leave us,
Moses is speaking to Hobab, his brother-in-law, who is the son of Reuel (Jethro), the Midianite priest. This plea highlights the importance of community and guidance in the journey of the Israelites. It reflects the human need for companionship and support, even when divine guidance is available. The request underscores the value of wisdom and experience that Hobab possesses, which Moses recognizes as beneficial for the journey ahead.

Moses said,
Moses, as the leader of the Israelites, often acts as the intermediary between God and the people. His leadership is characterized by humility and reliance on others, as seen in this request. This moment is a reminder of Moses' humanity and his understanding of the practical needs of the people he leads.

since you know where we should camp in the wilderness,
Hobab's knowledge of the wilderness is crucial for the Israelites, who are navigating through unfamiliar and challenging terrain. This phrase indicates the practical wisdom and experience that Hobab brings, which is essential for survival and success in the harsh conditions of the desert. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of God using human means and relationships to accomplish His purposes.

and you can serve as our eyes.
This metaphor emphasizes the role of guidance and insight that Hobab can provide. In a spiritual sense, it can be seen as a type of Christ, who is often referred to as the light and guide for believers. Just as Hobab is asked to be the eyes for the Israelites, Christ is the one who illuminates the path for His followers. This phrase also connects to the theme of reliance on God-given wisdom and discernment in navigating life's journey.

1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land. In this verse, Moses is speaking to Hobab.

2. Hobab
The son of Reuel (also known as Jethro), Moses' father-in-law. Hobab is invited by Moses to accompany the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness.

3. The Wilderness
The vast, uninhabited region through which the Israelites traveled after their exodus from Egypt. It represents both physical and spiritual challenges.

4. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are on a journey to the land promised to them by God.

5. The Journey
The Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, which is both a physical journey and a spiritual pilgrimage.The Importance of Community and Guidance
Moses' request to Hobab highlights the importance of community and seeking guidance from those with experience and knowledge. In our spiritual journey, we should value the wisdom and support of others.

Recognizing and Utilizing God-Given Resources
Hobab's knowledge of the wilderness was a God-given resource for the Israelites. We should recognize and utilize the resources and talents God places in our lives for His purposes.

Faith in the Journey
The wilderness journey required faith and trust in God's provision and guidance. Similarly, our life journey requires us to trust in God's plan, even when the path is unclear.

Leadership and Humility
Moses, despite being the leader, humbly acknowledges his need for Hobab's help. True leadership involves recognizing one's limitations and seeking assistance when needed.

God's Provision in Uncertainty
The wilderness represents uncertainty and challenge. God's provision often comes through unexpected means, such as Hobab's guidance, reminding us to remain open to His leading.(31) How we are to encamp . . . --It is clear from these words, as well as from many indications of the same nature, that notwithstanding the direct guidance which was vouchsafed from heaven, and the miraculous interpositions of Providence which the Israelites experienced throughout their journeys, Moses did not neglect to take advantage of all the ordinary precautions of which it was incumbent upon him as the leader of his people to avail himself. The line of march and the places of encampment were clearly marked out by the cloud, but many difficulties would arise in the course of the journeys, and at the places of encampment, which Hobab's familiarity with the desert would enable him to meet.

Verse 31. - Forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. It is an obvious conclusion, from the reasons here urged by Moses, that the many and wonderful promises of Divine guidance and Divine direction did not supersede in his eyes the use of all available human aids. It is not indeed easy to say where any room was left for the good offices and experience of Hobab; the cloud of the Divine Presence seemed to control absolutely the journeying and encamping of the people; yet if we really knew in detail the actual ordering of that wondrous march, we should doubtless find that the heavenly guidance did but give unity and certainty to all the wisdom, caution, and endeavour of its earthly leaders. Indeed if we recall to mind that the host is calculated at more than two millions of people, it is quite evident that even during the march to Kadesh (and much more in the long wanderings which followed) it must have been extremely difficult to keep the various divisions together. In the broken and difficult country which they were to traverse, which had been familiar to Hobab from his youth, there would be scope enough for all his ability as a guide. And it would seem that it was just this prospect of being really useful to the people of Israel that prevailed with Hobab. He must indeed have felt assured that a wonderful future awaited a nation whose past and present were, even within his own knowledge, so wonderful. But that alone could not move him to leave his own land and his own kindred, a firing so unspeakably repugnant to the feelings and traditions of his age and country. Doubtless to the child of the desert, whose life was a never-ending struggle with the dangers and vicissitudes of the wilderness, the land of promise, flowing with milk and honey, watered with the rain of heaven, seemed like the garden of Eden. Yet the offer of an heritage within that land moved him not so much, it would appear, as the claim upon his own good offices in helping the chosen people to reach their own abode. The Septuagint translation, or rather paraphrase, of this verse is, "Leave us not, forasmuch as thou wast with us in the wilderness, and thou shalt be an elder among us." This seems, on the one hand, to identify Hobab with Jethro; on the other, to imply that he was shortly afterwards one of the seventy elders upon whom the spirit came. This, however, is not likely. Hobab does indeed seem to have gone with the people, but his descendants were not incorporated into Israel; they were with them, but not of them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Please
נָ֖א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

leave us,”
תַּעֲזֹ֣ב (ta·‘ă·zōḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

Moses said,
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“since
כִּ֣י ׀ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you know
יָדַ֗עְתָּ (yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

where we should camp
חֲנֹתֵ֙נוּ֙ (ḥă·nō·ṯê·nū)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural
Strong's 2583: To incline, to decline, to pitch a, tent, gen, to encamp

in the wilderness,
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

and you can serve
וְהָיִ֥יתָ (wə·hā·yî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

as our eyes.
לְעֵינָֽיִם׃ (lə·‘ê·nā·yim)
Preposition-l | Noun - cd
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain


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OT Law: Numbers 10:31 He said Don't leave us please (Nu Num.)