28. That was the way the Israelites marched when they moved from place to place.
29. Hobab was the son of Reuel, the Midianite. (Reuel was Moses’ father-in-law.) Moses said to Hobab, “We are traveling to the land that the Lord promised to give to us. Come with us and we will be good to you. The Lord has promised good things to the Israelites.”
30. But Hobab answered, “No, I will not go with you. I will go back to my homeland and to my own people.”
31. Then Moses said, “Please don’t leave us. You know more about the desert than we do. You can be our guide.
32. If you come with us, we will share with you all the good things that the Lord gives us.”
33. So they began traveling from the mountain of the Lord. The priests took the Box of the Lord’S Agreement and walked in front of the people. They carried the Holy Box for three days, looking for a place to camp.
34. The Lord’S cloud was over them every day. And when they left their camp every morning, the cloud was there to lead them.
35. When the people lifted the Holy Box to move the camp, Moses always said, “Get up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered. May your enemies run away from you.”