That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to profane my holy name:
Ver. 7. That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor] Covetousness is craving and cruel; it rides without reins, as Balaam did after the wages of wickedness; and cares not whose head it rides over, to compass commodity. Yea it "panteth after the dust of the earth, on the head of the poor," as desirous not only to lay them in the dust, but to lay them a bleeding and a dying there. They gape over the head (or life) of the poor, in the dust of the earth (so some read the words), as devising to destroy them. A poor man's livelihood is his life, Mark 12:44 Luke 8:43, for a poor man in his house is like a snail in a shell; crush that and you kill him. These cormorants earnestly desired, and endeavoured to bring dust upon poor men's heads (the garb of those that were in heaviness, Job 2:12 Ezekiel 27:30 Lam 2:20), by their oppressions and injustice; yea, to bring them down to the dust of the earth, to set them as far underground as now they were above. Lo, this they do as greedily and as greatly desire, as serpents and other hot creatures covet the fresh air, to cool their scorched entrails. See Jer 14:6 Job 5:5; Job 7:2. It is said of Saul the persecutor, that he "breathed out threatenings against the Church," Acts 9:1, as a tired wolf, that wearied with worrying the flock lieth panting for breath. So Bonner whipped the poor martyrs till he was breathless. Some interpreters note out of Joseph Ben Gorion, that there was an old custom that those that were accused before the judges, should be arrayed in black, and have their heads covered with dust. And hence they conceive the sense to be this: "That pant," i.e. that earnestly desire that such poor men may be accused by the rich, of whom they may receive gifts to pervert judgment. And this they think to be confirmed by the following words.
They turn aside (or pervert) the way of the meek] That is, the cause, business, judgment of the modest and self-denying poor, the subject of rich men's injuries (for most part), the unreasonable oppressions, James 2:6. A crow will stand upon a sheep's back pulling off wool from her side; she dare not do so to a wolf or a mastiff. a Even reasonless creatures know whom they may be bold with; so do wicked oppressors. The meek by pocketing up one wrong, invite another. (Veterem ferendo iniuriam invitas novam.) "Ye have condemned and killed the just: and be doth not resist you," James 5:6. Ye not only rob, but ravish the poor, that are fallen into your nets, Psalms 10:9, ye do even whatsoever you please to them; as one martyr said of John Baptist, that he was put to death, as if God had been nothing aware of him.
And a man and his father will go in, &c.] By a horrible (if not incestuous) filthiness; such as heathens by the light of nature condemned and execrated, 1 Corinthians 5:1. The Indians abhor it; showing themselves in respect of the incestuous Spaniards among them, as the Scythians in respect of the Grecians, whom they so far excelled in life, as they were short of them in learning. Am I a dog, said Abner to Ishbosheth, 2 Samuel 3:8, that is, so impudently and excessively lustful as a dog is, so scalded in his own grease, Romans 1:27. Some libidinous sensualists put off all manhood, become dogs, worse than dogs; following their harlots, styled in Scripture, salt-bitches, Deuteronomy 23:18, such as having abandoned both the fear of God and shame of the world, care not whom they admit, father, son, any one, every one.
To profane my holy name] As if I were author or fautor b of such cruelties and villanies. This is to take God's name in vain, Proverbs 30:9, yea, this is to blaspheme, 1 Timothy 1:20, by breaking down the banks of blasphemy and causing the enemies of the truth to speak evil with open mouth, as they did in David's days, 2 Samuel 12:14. And in Paul's days, Romans 2:24. And in Origen's days, Nunc male audiunt castiganturque vulgo Christiani; quod vitia sub obtentu nominis Dei celent, Christians and their religion heareth ill among heathens, by reason of their impious and impure lives, and their conversation not becoming the gospel of Christ, Philippians 1:27. Of such carnal gospellers it may be truly said, as Diogenes said to Antipater (who being vicious wore a white cloak, the ensign of innocence), that they do virtutis stragulam pudefacere, put honesty to an open shame, bring contempt upon God and his ways.
a A large, powerful dog with a large head, drooping ears and pendulous lips, valuable as a watch-dog. ŒD.
b An adherent, partisan, supporter, abettor. ŒD