Hobab is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Numbers and the Book of Judges. He is identified as the son of Reuel (also known as Jethro), the Midianite priest, and the brother-in-law of Moses. The name "Hobab" is of uncertain meaning, but it is often associated with the idea of "cherished" or "beloved."

Biblical References:

1. Numbers 10:29-32 : Hobab is introduced in the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. Moses appeals to Hobab to accompany the Israelites as they travel to the Promised Land. Moses says to Hobab, "We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel." Hobab initially declines, expressing a desire to return to his own land and people. However, Moses persists, emphasizing the benefits of Hobab's knowledge of the wilderness, which would be invaluable to the Israelites. The text does not explicitly state Hobab's final decision, leaving it open to interpretation whether he joined the Israelites or returned to Midian.

2. Judges 4:11 : Hobab is mentioned again in the context of the account of Deborah and Barak. Here, he is referred to as the ancestor of Heber the Kenite. The verse states, "Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh." This reference suggests that Hobab's descendants integrated into the Israelite community and played a role in the events of the period of the Judges.

Role and Significance:

Hobab's role in the biblical narrative highlights the importance of kinship and alliances in the early history of Israel. His potential guidance and knowledge of the wilderness would have been a significant asset to the Israelites during their journey. The invitation extended by Moses to Hobab underscores the value placed on familial ties and the integration of non-Israelites into the community of God's people.

The mention of Hobab's descendants in the Book of Judges indicates that his family maintained a presence among the Israelites, contributing to the broader narrative of Israel's settlement in Canaan. The Kenites, associated with Hobab, are depicted as having a generally positive relationship with Israel, often serving as allies.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, Hobab's account illustrates the inclusivity of God's covenant community. Despite being a Midianite, Hobab is invited to share in the blessings promised to Israel. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's concern for all nations and the potential for outsiders to become part of His people through faith and association.

Hobab's narrative also serves as a reminder of the practical wisdom and guidance that can come from diverse sources, emphasizing the value of collaboration and mutual support within the community of faith.Hobab

favored; beloved

Hobab

(beloved). This name is found in two places only (Numbers 10:29; Judges 4:11) Hobab was brother-in-law to Moses. (B.C. 1530.)

Hobab

The son of Raguel or Reuel, Numbers 10:29. According to one supposition he was the same as Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, Zipporah being called the daughter of Reuel as one of his descendants. According to another view, he was the brother of Jethro. Those who hold this opinion maintain that the Hebrew word rendered father-in- law, Jud 4:11 may denote simply a relation by marriage. When the Hebrews were about leaving mount Sinai, Moses requested him to cast in his lot with the people of God, both for his own sake and because his knowledge of the desert its inhabitants might often be of service to the Jews. It would appear that he acceded to this request, Jude 1:16; 4:11.

Beloved, the Kenite, has been usually identified with Jethro (q.v.), Exodus 18:5, 27; comp. Numbers 10:29, 30. In Judges 4:11, the word rendered "father-in-law" means properly any male relative by marriage (Comp. Genesis 19:14, "son-in-law, " A.V.), and should be rendered "brother-in-law," as in the R.V. His descendants followed Israel to Canaan (Numbers 10:29), and at first pitched their tents near Jericho, but afterwards settled in the south in the borders of Arad (Judges 1:8-11, 16). HOBAB

ho'-bab (chobhabh, "beloved"; Septuagint Obab): This name occurs only twice (Numbers 10:29 Judges 4:11). It is not certain whether it denotes the father-in-law or the brother-in-law of Moses. The direct statement of Numbers 10:29 is that Hobab was "the son of Reuel" (the King James Version "Raguel"). This is probably the correct view and finds support in Exodus 18:27, which tells us that some time before the departure of the Israelites from Sinai, Jethro had departed and returned to his own land. The statement of Judges 4:11 is ambiguous, and therefore does not help us out of the difficulty, but is rather itself to be interpreted in the light of the earlier statement in Numbers 10:29.

Mohammedan traditions favor the view that Hobab was only another name for Jethro. But this has little weight against the statements of Scripture. However, whether father-in-law or brother-in-law to Moses, the service he rendered to the leader of the hosts of Israel was most valuable and beautiful. Hobab was an experienced sheikh of the desert whose counsel and companionship Moses desired in the unfamiliar regions through which he was to journey. His knowledge of the wilderness and of its possible dangers would enable him to be to the Israelites "instead of eyes."

The facts recorded of this man are too meager to enable us to answer all the questions that arise concerning him. A difficulty that remains unsolved is the fact that in Judges 1:16 and 4:11 he is described as a Kenite, while in Exodus 3:1 and 18:1, the father-in-law of Moses is spoken of as "the priest of Midian."

Jesse L. Cotton

2246. Chobab -- father-in-law of Moses
... 2245, 2246. Chobab. 2247 . father-in-law of Moses. Transliteration: Chobab
Phonetic Spelling: (kho-bawb') Short Definition: Hobab. ... Hobab. ...
/hebrew/2246.htm - 6k

Hobab
... THE BOOK OF NUMBERS HOBAB. 'And Moses said unto Hobab ... Come ... 29. There
is some doubt with regard to the identity of this Hobab. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/hobab.htm

The Blessing of God on Filial Piety.
... The Rechabites are said to have been a branch of the Kenites, and to have descended
from Hobab, the son of Jethro, Moses' father in law. *. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxiii the blessing of.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. THE WARFARE OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE. THE GUIDING PILLAR. HOBAB.
THE HALLOWING OF WORK AND OF REST. MOSES DESPONDENT. AFRAID OF GIANTS. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/

Call to China and Voyage Hence
... had passed away, the voice of Hohab was heard crying out, "Attend to me, attend
to me, for I am the well-rubbed Palm-stem." The figure Hobab used represented a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/ii call to china and.htm

John 7:37-38. "Let any Man Come. "
... Let me remind my readers, in passing, that no prophet or Apostle ever took on himself
to use such language as this. "Come with us," said Moses to Hobab (Num.10 ...
/.../chapter vii john 7 37-38 let.htm

Contents
... THE WARFARE OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE (Numbers 4:23). THE GUIDING PILLAR (Numbers 9:16).
HOBAB (Numbers 10:29). THE HALLOWING OF WORK AND OF REST (Numbers 10:35, 36) ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/contents 2.htm

The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
... from thence, let that Rabbinical story come into your mind, of The gift of Jericho,
of five hundred cubits square, granted to the sons of Hobab, Moses' father ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 46 the country of.htm

How the Humble and the Haughty are to be Admonished.
... Whence Moses, who journeyed through the desert under the direction of God and the
leading of the cloudy pillar, when he would draw Hobab his kinsman from ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xvii how the humble.htm

The Hold Fast
... Do as Moses did, who when his father-in-law, Hobab, was with him, would not suffer
him to depart, "for" he said, "thou shalt be to us instead of eyes, for thou ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the hold fast.htm

The Pentateuch.
... not to leave him, but to go with him that he might be to the people instead of eyes
(Numb.10:31), we may well suppose that he had in view Hobab's knowledge of ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xix the pentateuch.htm

Hobab (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HOBAB. ... The direct statement of Numbers 10:29 is
that Hobab was "the son of Reuel" (the King James Version "Raguel"). ...
/h/hobab.htm - 10k

Jethro (10 Occurrences)
... This advice Moses adopted (Exodus 18). He was also called Hobab (qv), which was
probably his personal name, while Jethro was an official name. (see MOSES.). ...
/j/jethro.htm - 17k

Reuel (14 Occurrences)
... system Reuel is both a son of Esau by Basemath (Genesis 36:4, 10, 13, 17 1 Chronicles
1:35, 37) and the father of the father-in-law of Moses, Hobab (Numbers 10 ...
/r/reuel.htm - 12k

Raguel (1 Occurrence)
... in-law or brother-in-law of Moses (Numbers 10:29 the King James Version, the Revised
Version (British and American) "Reuel"), the father of Hobab, called a ...
/r/raguel.htm - 9k

Father-in-law (25 Occurrences)
... Numbers 10:29 Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses'
father-in-law, "We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said,'I will give ...
/f/father-in-law.htm - 15k

Zipporah (3 Occurrences)
... zi-po'-ra, zip'-o-ra (tsipporah; Sepphora): The Midianite wife of Moses, daughter
of Jethro, also called Hobab, and probably grand-daughter of Reuel, a priest ...
/z/zipporah.htm - 9k

Heber (13 Occurrences)
... Passing over. (1.) Son of Beriah and grandson of Asher (Genesis 46:17; 1 Chronicles
7:31, 32). (2.) The Kenite (Judges 4:11, 17; 5:24), a descendant of Hobab. ...
/h/heber.htm - 12k

Zaanannim (2 Occurrences)
... Judges 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from
the children of Hobab the brother-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent ...
/z/zaanannim.htm - 8k

Zaanaim (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father
in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent ...
/z/zaanaim.htm - 7k

Za-anan'nim (2 Occurrences)
... Judges 4:11 Now Heber the Ken'ite had separated from the Ken'ites, the descendants
of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as ...
/z/za-anan'nim.htm - 7k

Who were the Midianites? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Kenites? | GotQuestions.org

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