My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
My heart shall cry out for Moab. The prophet himself is moved with pity for Moab. Ministers, in denouncing the wrath of God against sinners, should do it with tender sorrow, not with exultation.
His fugitives (shall flee) unto Zoar - fleeing from Moab, wander as far as to Zoar, on the extreme boundary south of the Dead Sea. Horsley translates, her nobility, or "rulers" (Hosea 4:18).
An heifer of three years old - i:e., raising their voices, 'like a heifer' (cf. Jeremiah 48:34; Jeremiah 48:36). The expression, "three years old," implies one at its full vigour (Genesis 15:9), as yet not bright under the yoke: as Moab, heretofore unsubdued, but now about to be broken. So Jeremiah 31:18; Hosea 4:16. Maurer translates, 'Eglath (in the English version "a heifer") Shelishijah' (i:e., the third, to distinguish it from two others of the same name). I prefer the English version.
By the mounting up - up the ascent. Of Luhith - a mountain in Moab.
For in the way of Horonaim - a town of Moab not far from Zoar (Jeremiah 48:5). It means the two holes, being near caves.
They shall raise up a cry of destruction - a cry appropriate to the destruction which visits their country.