“We have heard
Of the pride of Moab.
How proud he is!
We have heard
Of his arrogance.
We have heard
Of his pride.
We have heard
Of his insolence.
His boasts are false.
Therefore let Moab wail!
Let everyone wail for Moab!
Mourn!
It is utterly stricken.
They cry for
The raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth.”
Isaiah here assumes the first person plural “we,” instead of the first person singular, “I.” Now the tone is not as forgiving. They have heard of the pride, the arrogance, and insolence of Moab. Those Moabites make false boasts. Therefore, let them cry. Let everyone wail away, because they have been decimated. They cry out for their raisin cakes from Kir-hareseth. The raisin cakes were made from the grapes that dried up. These must have been some good bakery cakes from the town of Kir or Kerak in Moab, the probable names for Kir-hareseth.