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1 Send ye the lambe to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wildernesse, vnto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 For it shalbe that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest: so the daughters of Moab shalbe at the fordes of Arnon.
3 Take counsell, execute Iudgement, make thy shadow as the night in the middest of the nooneday, hide the outcastes, bewray not him that wandereth.
4 Let mine outcasts dwel with thee, Moab, be thou a couert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressours are consumed out of the land.
5 And in mercy shall the throne be established, and hee shal sit vpon it in trueth, in the tabernacle of Dauid, iudging and seeking iudgement, and hasting righteousnesse.
6 ¶ We haue heard of the pride of Moab (hee is very proud) euen of his hautines, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
7 Therefore shall Moab howle for Moab, euery one shal howle: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall yee mourne, surely they are stricken.
8 For the fieldes of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah, the lords of the heathen haue broken downe the principall plants thereof, they are come euen vnto Iazer, they wandred through the wildernesse, her branches are stretched out, they are gone ouer the sea.
9 ¶ Therefore I wil bewaile with the weeping of Iazer, the Uine of Sibmah I wil water thee with my teares, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy Summer fruits, and for thy haruest, is fallen.
10 And gladnesse is taken away, and ioy out of the plentifull field, and in the Uineyards there shalbe no singing, neither shal there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I haue made their vintage shouting to cease.
11 Wherefore my bowels shal sound like an harpe for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh.
12 ¶ And it shal come to passe, when it is seene that Moab is weary on the high place, that hee shall come to his Sanctuary to pray: but hee shall not preuaile.
13 This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
14 But now the Lord hath spoken, saying, Within three yeeres, as the yeeres of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shalbe contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
Moab is exhorted to yield obedience. (1-5) The pride and the judgments of Moab. (6-14)1-5 God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be applied to the great gospel duty of submission to Christ. Send him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every thing else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel. Those that expect to find favour when in trouble themselves, must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said concerning the throne of Hezekiah, also belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though by subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours, but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life.
6-14 Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. More souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon turn laughter into mourning, and joy into heaviness. In God let us always rejoice with holy triumph; in earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moab are unable to help; and the God of Israel, the only true God, can and will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is very near, and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine wrath, discover the way of escape to those who take warning. There is no escape, but by submission to the Son of David, and devoting ourselves to him. And, at length, when the appointed time comes, all the glory, prosperity, and multitude of the wicked shall perish.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.