Wesley Corpus

Chapter X Orders concerning the silver trumpets, ver. 1 - 10. The removal of the Israelites to Paran, ver. 11 - 28. The treaty of Moses with Hobab, ver. 29 - 32. His prayer at the removal and resting of the ark, ver. 33 - 36. Two trumpets - For Aaron's two sons: though afterwards the number of the trumpets was much increased, as the number of the priests also was. These trumpets were ordained, both for signification of the great duty of ministers, to preach the word; and for use, as here follows. For their journeys - As a sign for them to march forward, and consequently for the rest to follow them. Ye shall be saved - If you use this ordinance of God with trust and dependance upon God for help. In the days of your gladness - Days appointed for rejoicing and thanksgiving to God for former mercies, or deliverances. Your solemn days - Your stated festivals. For a memorial - That God may remember you for good to accept and bless you. God then takes pleasure in our religious exercises, when we take pleasure in them. Holy work should be done with holy joy. Paran - From which they travelled to other places, and then returned into it again, Num 12:16. The others - The Gershonites, and Merarites, who therefore marched after the first camp, a good distance from, and before the Kohathites, that they might prepare the tabernacle for the reception of its utensils, which the Kohathites brought some time after them. Raguel - Called also Reuel, Exo 2:18, who seems to be the same with Jethro; it being usual in scripture for one person to have two or three names. And therefore this Hobab is not Jethro, but his son, which may seem more probable, because Jethro was old and unfit to travel, and desirous, as may well be thought, to die in his own country, whither he returned, Exo 18:27, but Hobab was young and fitter for these journeys, and therefore entreated by Moses to stay and bear them company. I will not go - So he might sincerely say, though afterward he was overcome by the persuasions of Moses.