“Therefore my heart
Moans for Moab,
Like a flute.
My heart moans
Like a flute
For the people
Of Kir-heres.
The riches
That they had gained,
Has perished.
Every head
Is shaved.
Every beard
Is cut off.
On all the hands,
There are gashes.
On the loins,
There are sack cloths.”
Yahweh’s heart moans for Moab like a flute. The same is true of the people of Kir-heres, a major city in Moab, dedicated to the sun. All the richness that Moab had attained has now perished. Their heads are shaven and their beards are cut off. Their hands are all gashed, as they are also wearing sackcloth. These were all the signs of someone in mourning.