Numbers 10:29-36

The chest leads

29 Moses said to Hobab the Midianite, Reuel's son and Moses' father-in-law, "We're marching to the place about which the LORD has said, ‘I'll give it to you.' Come with us and we'll treat you well, for the LORD has promised to treat Israel well."

30 Hobab said to him, "I won't go; I'd rather go to my land and to my folk."

31 Moses said, "Please don't abandon us, for you know where we can camp in the desert, and you can be our eyes.

32 If you go with us, whatever good the LORD does for us, we'll do for you."

33 They marched from the LORD's mountain for three days. The LORD's chest containing the covenant marched ahead of them for three days to look for a resting place for them.

34 Now the LORD's cloud was over them by day when they marched from the camp.

35 When the chest set out, Moses would say, "Arise, LORD, let your enemies scatter, and those who hate you flee."

36 When it rested, he would say, "Return, LORD of the ten thousand thousands of Israel."

Numbers 10:29-36 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 10

This chapter gives an account of the directions given for making two silver trumpets, and of the use of them, the ends and purposes for which they were to be made, Nu 10:1-10; and of the time of taking up of the cloud from the tabernacle, and of the removal of the camp of Israel from the wilderness of Sinai, and of the order of their march, Nu 10:11-28; when Moses most earnestly passed Hobab, his brother in law, to continue with him, Nu 10:29-32; and the chapter is closed with the prayer of Moses at the setting forward of the ark, and the resting of it, Nu 10:33-36.