And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.

But he answered him: I will not go with thee, but I will return to my country, wherein I was born.

But he said, I will not go with you, I will go back to the land of my birth and to my relations.

And he answered him, "I will not go with you, but I will return to my own land, in which I was born."

Respondit autem ei, Non veniam: sed ad terram meam, et ad natale solum meum ibo.

I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred - From the strong expostulations in Numbers 10:31 and Numbers 10:32, and from Judges 1:16; Judges 4:11, and 1-Samuel 15:6, it is likely that Hobab changed his mind; or that, if he did go back to Midian, he returned again to Israel, as the above scriptures show that his posterity dwelt among the Israelites in Canaan. Reader, after having been almost persuaded to become a Christian, to take Christ, his cross, his reproach, and his crown, for thy portion, art thou again purposing to go back to thy own land, and to thy kindred? Knowest thou not that this land is the place of destruction - that the children of this world, who are not taking God for their portion, are going to perdition? Up, get thee hence, for the Lord will destroy this place by fire; and all who are not of the kindred and family of Christ shall perish at the brightness of his appearing!

And he said unto him, I will not go,.... Which was a very peremptory answer, he seemed determined, and at a point about it for the present, though it is, probable he afterwards changed his mind, like the young man in the parable, Matthew 21:29,
but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred; which were prevailing motives with him, his native country, his relations, and father's house; to this resolution he came, both because of his substance, and because of his family, as Jarchi.

I will not go - So he might sincerely say, though afterward he was overcome by the persuasions of Moses.