The name “Hobab” may not ring any bell, but you’ve likely heard of Jethro.
Some people have pointed out a seeming discrepancy in the two biblical references to Hobab. They argue that one reference suggests that Hobab is Moses’ brother-in-law rather than his father-in-law. However, many scholars agree that he is, in fact, the father-in-law of Moses, which means Hobab was Jethro’s connected or alternate name. For this article’s purpose, we will refer to Jethro as Hobab.
Moses’ father-in-law showed Moses great compassion after he arrived from Egypt, and we remember him well as a good father figure. Despite his non-Israelite status, God valued Hobab and had a plan for him in the overarching narrative of the biblical story.
Today, we’ll talk about Hobab—his roots, how he played a role in the Old Testament and in Moses’ story, and what we can take away from his life in our own lives today.
Let’s dive in.
Who Was Hobab in the Bible?
We must understand his background before discussing Hobab and what he did for Moses.
Hobab’s name appears a few times in the Bible, so let’s dissect what each verse tells us about him.
- Exodus 18:5 tells us that he’s Moses’s father-in-law. We know that Moses grew up in Egypt after the Pharaoh had declared a mass genocide on the infant males of Israel. God protected Moses and allowed him to grow up in the Egyptian palace. After committing murder, Moses flees Egypt and meets Hobab and Hobab’s daughter. All three of them apparently camp near “the mountain of God.”
- Exodus 18:27 tells us that when Moses receives a calling from God to go back into Egypt to free the enslaved people, Hobab returns to his own country. Hobab must not have received the same calling as Moses. But we can imagine he sends Moses on with a blessing. The narrative doesn’t tell us that he disapproves of Moses.
- Numbers 10:29 tells us that Hobab is the son of a Midianite. The Midianites were Canaanites peoples who often had amicable relations with Israel. They often went to war with Israel, too. This was one of the periods when the two groups were at peace. Moses tells Hobab to join him in his trek to the Promised Land. Hobab initially refuses Moses’ offer.
- Judges 4:11 tells us about one of Hobab’s descendants. Hobab is what we would call a Kenite. They were a nomadic tribe that had always had good relationships with Israel throughout history. David remembers them and treats them well during the time of his rule. Perhaps David remembers Hobab’s kindness to Moses all those centuries before.
The Bible tells us little else about Hobab.
In other texts, such as Josephus’ histories, we know that Hobab sometimes goes by the name of Raguel.
In all cases, we can imagine the hospitality that Hobab showed Moses in the wilderness. Josephus seems to indicate that Hobab was good at giving speeches and visited Moses and Moses’ wife in the desert.
What Did Hobab Do to Moses in the Bible?
We know that Moses marries Hobab’s daughter, Zipporah. But do we know anything else about what he did with Moses in the Bible?
Our first instance is when we meet Hobab, who goes by a different name in Exodus 2; he talks with his daughters. They’ve just been rescued from some unruly shepherds by a man who has fled Egypt.
We don’t necessarily know what Hobab thought of the Egyptians. Perhaps he had a healthy fear of them as they were the global superpower at the time, and they had enslaved the Israelites.
But he hears that Moses protected his daughters. So, what does he do? He tells his girls to invite Moses in for a meal.
The meal turns into several as Moses stays with Hobab for an indeterminate period. We know that Hobab was extremely hospitable and could share shelter with Moses. What’s more, Hobab gives his daughter Zipporah to Moses for their marriage.
Hobab doesn’t appear again until Exodus 4, when Moses returns from the burning bush. Moses tells him he must go to Egypt, and Hobab wishes him well.
We can imagine Hobab maybe had some trepidation. Moses would, after all, be bringing his daughter along for that journey. And who knew what the Egyptians would do? But Hobab doesn’t seem to voice any worry. Instead, he blesses the couple and their journey.
Later on in Exodus 18, Hobab hears about what God had done in Egypt and how he rescued the Israelites. He praises God for these mighty acts. He even declares that Yahweh is more powerful than any other deity.
The Bible doesn’t tell us if the Kenites worshipped specific gods, but we can imagine they believed in more than one god. Perhaps Hobab also worshipped specific deities. But once he hears about the power of the Almighty, he knows that any other power is completely unmatched by that of Yahweh.
What Does Hobab Do in the Wilderness?
There’s a particular scene that happens in Exodus 18 that I think is worth drawing special attention to.
Hobab realizes that Moses has far overloaded his schedule. He’s taken on far more than he can chew.
So Hobab pulls Moses aside and says (in as modern of a translation as I can create), “Hey, stop burning the candle at both ends. You need to start delegating tasks to others and not take on everything yourself.”
Moses follows Hobab’s advice and ends up the better for it.
We see the practicality of delegation in the early church. When the disciples felt overwhelmed by the demands of food from the widows, they appointed people to handle those affairs. That way, they could continue the spread of the Gospel without getting caught up in the details.
Even heaven’s armies have delegations of certain tasks.
We don’t hear a ton else from Hobab in the biblical narrative. However, we know that Israel and the Kenites view each other with honor and respect in the Old Testament because of the relationship between Moses and his father-in-law.
What Can We Learn from Hobab in the Bible?
Hobab is an example of God working through the Gentiles, even in the Old Testament, hinting at his grand plan for the world's future. He’s an exemplary figure whom we should model in our everyday lives. Here are three main lessons we can pull from the person of Hobab in the Bible.
First, Hobab valued hospitality.
Hobab heard Moses had rescued his daughters, and he instantly set the table. Not only does he allow Moses to stay with him for an extended period, but he eventually welcomes him into the family.
Many Christians have the gift of hospitality. God has blessed us with the hearts to open our homes to the needy and oppressed. Let’s embrace this gift and show our faith in action.
Second, Hobab saw and acknowledged God’s power.
Hobab existed in a polytheistic society where people thought gods had equal power. Not only does he bless Moses’ journey to Egypt, but he also acknowledges God’s power when he hears what happens. This was no small feat—for someone to recognize Yahweh’s superiority over other gods.
Finally, Hobab encouraged delegation.
In a society that tells us to be our own boss and do everything, we can learn a lesson or two from Hobab. He saw through Moses’ exhaustion and told him he couldn’t half-heartedly do everything.
Moses heeds Hobab’s advice and delegates fit men for certain tasks.
In the same way, are we trying to control our schedules too much? Where can we offload onto someone who can help keep our sanity?
Hobab is a wonderful figure in the Bible from whom we can learn a great deal. May we reflect his faith, his hospitality, and his sage wisdom.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/1971yes
Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, book editor for hire, and the author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of her works have been featured in various publications. Check out her books at hopebolinger.com for clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Check out her editing profile at Reedsy.com to find out about hiring her for your next book project.
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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