Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Ver. 37. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers.] He shall disannul his own ancient religion, caring neither for the old mumpsimus, a nor the new sumpsimus, b as they say, but showing himself to be a rank atheist. See 1Ma 1:43 .
Nor the desire of women,] scil., In an honest lawful way of matrimony; but be addicted to vagrant lust, yea, and to the sin against nature with women, as some sense it, a Deo prohibito et perdito, in which case the Turkish women, when so abused by their husbands (those filthy beasts), may sue a divorce; which they do by taking off their shoes before the judge, and holding them the soles upward, but speaking nothing, for the unnameableness of the fact. c
Nor regard any god.] See my Commonplace of Atheism.
a One who obstinately adheres to old ways, in spite of the clearest evidence that they are wrong; an ignorant and bigoted opponent of reform. ŒD
b A correct expression taking the place of an incorrect but popular one (mumpsimus). ŒD
c Sir Henry Blount's Voyage into the Levant.